A logical fallacy in which a proposition is presented as desirable or true simply because many people believe it or do it. Its parameters are (1) the appeal to popularity — a claim gains persuasive force from the number of its adherents, and (2) the presumption of correctness by consensus — the crowd's adoption is taken as evidence of validity. It persists through language use in argumentation, debate, and rhetorical instruction. [formal: ad circulares | substrate: behavior | horizon: a moment | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.88]
Accepted ontology entry
bandwagon
A logical fallacy in which a proposition is presented as desirable or true simply because many people believe it or do it. Its parameters are (1) the appeal to popularity — a claim gains persuasive force from the number of its adherents, a…
Definition
Why it is in scope
Bandwagon is a human-made propaganda technique that persuades by appealing to the desire to conform — 'everyone is doing it, so you should too.' Built to persist through social psychology and mass media, it manipulates the human need for belonging as a lever of influence.
Names and aliases
- bandwagonen · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
- cmrtrh7ri001jv7fatx3t7olxINSTANCE_OF →
Bandwagon (appeal to popularity) is a specific kind of logical fallacy. A competent speaker calls bandwagon 'a logical fallacy.' INSTANCE_OF: specific → general per Law 9.
- cmrmwufxy01pxd1nllvxs1o1sINSTANCE_OF →
bandwagon IS a specific kind of cognitive-bias — the tendency to adopt beliefs or behaviors because many others do. Law 9: specific→general.
Relations to this entry
No accepted relations in this direction.
Record identity
- Created
- Jul 20, 2026, 8:47 PM UTC
- Content hash
- 3f14b1dc638eab2aa196b05ba7c7e65a0cd5a8eda5e162e931202b9146843fa3