Cum Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc is a Latin phrase that translates to with this, therefore because of this. It is a cognitive bias and logical fallacy that occurs when someone assumes that because two events occurred together, one event must have caused the other. This type of thinking can lead to incorrect conclusions and poor decision-making. It is important to note that correlation does not necessarily imply causation. One of the key aspects of Cum Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc is that it can be difficult to recognize when one is exhibiting this type of thinking. It is natural to make assumptions based on what one observes, but it is important to consider other factors that may have contributed to the observed events. For example, if a person notices that they always get a headache after drinking coffee, they may assume that the coffee is causing the headache. However, there could be other factors at play, such as stress or lack of sleep. Another important aspect of Cum Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc is that it can lead to incorrect conclusions and poor decision-making. If someone assumes that one event caused another without sufficient evidence, they may take actions based on that assumption that are not effective or appropriate. For example, if a company notices that their sales always increase when they run a certain advertisement, they may assume that the advertisement is causing the increase in sales. However, there could be other factors at play, such as seasonal trends or changes in the market. Overall, Cum Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc is a cognitive bias and logical fallacy that occurs when someone assumes that because two events occurred together, one event must have caused the other. It is important to recognize this type of thinking and consider other factors that may have contributed to the observed events. Making assumptions without sufficient evidence can lead to incorrect conclusions and poor decision-making.
cognitive bias, logical fallacy, correlation, causation, decision-making
CITATION : "Joshua Wood. 'Cum Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=357520 (Accessed on August 02, 2025)"
Cum Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc is a cognitive bias and logical fallacy that involves drawing conclusions without sufficient evidence. It is a mistake in reasoning that happens when someone assumes that because two events happened together, one event caused the other. For example, if it rained after a person sang a song, they might assume that their singing caused the rain. However, this is not necessarily true and it is important to look at the situation more closely and consider other factors that may have caused the rain.
Cum Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc, Post Hoc Fallacy, False Cause, Illogical Conclusions.
Cum Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc is a cognitive bias and logical fallacy where a person assumes that because two events or phenomena occur together or one after the other, then one must be the cause of the other. This is a false assumption as correlation does not necessarily imply causation. This type of thinking can lead to incorrect conclusions and result in poor decision making. It can be hard to recognize when one is exhibiting this type of thinking as it can be natural to make assumptions based on what one observes.
Cum Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc, Correlation, Causation, Logical Fallacy, Cognitive Bias
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