Refutation of Ad Populum

Ad populum appeals by their very nature are very popular. The major ploy against them is to invoke another ad populum that supports your case and/or goes against the case of your opponent, one that you think might have an even greater appeal.

There is a second way of attacking your opponent's use of the ad populum appeal. This way is to be used only if you cannot think of an effective counter ad populum appeal. You must point out to your audience the extent to which most people accept is wrong. You can derive this point home by giving examples, such as the fact that many people once believed that the earth was flat, and surely the majority opinion here was wrong.

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