Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc

Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc (Specific Type of Causal Fallacy)

"Post hoc" literally means "after this, therefore because of this." It's a specific causal fallacy where someone assumes that just because one event followed another, the first caused the second. It usually involves a chain of events leading to a mistaken conclusion.

Example:
💬 “I took cold medicine. Then I sneezed less, my throat stopped hurting, and I felt better by the evening. The cold medicine cured me.”
👉 While it might have helped, the cold could have naturally run its course. The timing alone isn’t proof of cause.

Causal Fallacy (General Term)

A causal fallacy is when someone incorrectly assumes a cause-and-effect relationship between two things that may not actually be connected in that way. It’s often too simplistic or based on weak reasoning.

Example:
💬 “I wore my lucky socks, so we won the game.”
👉 Just because the socks and the win happened together doesn’t mean one caused the other.