Logic – For the love of it

Argumentum ex culo

classification : informal – rhetoric device

is the act of arguing by way of non sequitur, ad hockery, and/or bullshit in a desperate attempt to shore up a blatantly untenable argument. The derivation is from the Latin which literally means an argument pulled from your backside.

Foundations

As a general rule, if something “stinks” about the argument, there’s a good chance it’s an argumentum ex culo.

Examples

All men are mortal, and Socrates is a man, therefore Socrates likes girls.

I sit at a table to read, and the elements are organized in a table, therefore reading is elementary.

Other Names

non sequitur
ad hoc
bullshit

© 2009, jhslee. All rights reserved.