Definition and Examples of Non Sequiturs

Definition and Examples of Non Sequiturs Definition A non sequitur is a  fallacy in which a conclusion does not follow logically from what preceded it. Also known as  irrelevant reason and fallacy of the consequent. As illustrated below, non sequiturs are the products of many different kinds of errors in reasoning, including begging the question, false dilemma, ad hominem, the appeal to ignorance, and the straw man argument. Indeed, as  Steve Hindes observes in Think for Yourself  (2005), A  non sequitur  is any pretended jump in  logic  that doesnt work cleanly, perhaps because of unfounded  premises, unmentioned complicating factors, or alternative explanations, such as This war is righteous because we are French! or You will do what I say because you are my wife! The Latin expression non sequitur means it does not follow. Pronunciation: non SEK-wi-terr Examples and Observations We realize that it would be in the best interest of the community and our children to address the issue expeditiously. In order to make this happen, I respectfully request an eight-month payment delay calling for payment of the $10 million obligation on August 31, 2015.(Savannah City Manager Stephanie Cutter in a letter to the citys superintendent of schools; reported in the Savannah Morning News, April 3, 2014)Warming was caused by sunspots, or fluctuations in the Earths orbit, or volcanic eruptions. Therefore it cannot be caused by mankind. The therefore is the giveaway, the delicious non sequitur: just because Earth has warmed for one or another reason in the past is no reason why it cannot warm for a completely different reason in the future.(John Llewellyn, In a Confusing Climate. The Observer, September 2, 2007)A Philosophers Non SequiturImmanuel Kant, considered by many to be the greatest philosopher of the modern period, would manage to let slip what is surely the greatest no n-sequitur in the history of philosophy: describing a report of something seemingly intelligent that had once been said by an African, Kant dismisses it on the grounds that this fellow was quite black from head to toe, a clear proof that what he said was stupid.(Justin E.H. Smith, The Enlightenments Race Problem, and Ours. The New York Times, February 10, 2013) Obvious Non SequitursNon sequiturs are most obvious when absurd. For instance, from the facts that most cats like milk and some cats have tails I could not derive the conclusion that David Hume was the greatest British philosopher. That would be a complete non sequitur that borders on the surreal, whether or not its conclusion is true. Non sequiturs are often advertised by the spurious use of so and therefore..., but the context of a statement can also suggest that it is a conclusion derived from what has gone before even when there is no such word used to indicate it.Any formal fallacy will have a non sequitur as its conclusion, though most of these non sequiturs will be less obvious than the one above.(Nigel Warburton, Thinking from A to Z. Routledge, 1996)Non Sequiturs in NewspapersNon sequiturs are most often encountered in newspapers, where constructions such as the following are common: Slim, of medium height, and with sharp features, Mr. Smiths technical skills are combined wi th strong leadership qualities (New York Times). What, we might ask, do Mr. Smiths height and features have to do with his leadership qualities?†(Bill Bryson, Brysons Dictionary of Troublesome Words: A Writers Guide to Getting It Right. Anchor, 2002) The Post Hoc and the Non SequiturThe difference between the post hoc and the non sequitur fallacies is that, whereas the post hoc fallacy is due to lack of a causal connection, in the non sequitur fallacy, the error is due to lack of a logical connection.(Mabel Lewis Sahakian, Ideas of the Great Philosophers. Barnes Noble, 1993)On the Lighter Side: Ralph Wiggums Non SequitursRalph Wiggum: Um, Miss Hoover? Theres a dog in the vent.Miss Hoover: Ralph, remember the time you said Snagglepuss was outside?Ralph Wiggum: He was going to the bathroom.(Sweet Seymour Skinners Baadasssss Song, The Simpsons)Ralph Wiggum: Martin Luther King had a dream. Dreams are where Elmo and Toy Story had a party and I was invited. Yay! My turn is over!Principal Skinner: One of your best, Ralphie.(The Color Yellow, The Simpsons, 2010)