ELI5 Edition Discord Version Try the Political Version

Affirming the Consequent

The Fallacy

Assuming that because the consequent is true, the antecedent must also be true.

Why it's wrong

An error in formal logic where if A causes B, and B is observed, one incorrectly assumes A must have happened. However, B could have been caused by many other things (C, D, or E).

Example

If it rains, the streets will be wet. The streets are wet, therefore it must have rained.