Joint Effect
Joint Effect
classification : informal – fallacies Of ambiguity
Joint effect is a logical fallacy of causation in which two phenomena that have a common cause are thought to be cause and effect themselves.
Foundations
This is a special case of correlation implies causation. In statistics, the common cause is called a confounding factor and this fallacy is called a spurious relationship.
Examples
We are experiencing high unemployment which is being caused by a low consumer demand. (In fact, both may be caused by high interest rates.)
You have a fever and this is causing you to break out in spots. (In fact, both symptoms are caused by the measles.)
Other Names
A special case of post hoc ergo prompter hoc.
fallacy of causation
fallacy of the single cause
causal oversimplification
Spurious relationship
false dilemma
© 2009, jhslee. All rights reserved.
