Definition
Non Sequitur (Latin for “it does not follow”) is a logical fallacy where the conclusion does not logically follow from the premises. It represents a break in the “logical chain,” where a connection is implied or asserted but is non-existent.
Why It Matters
The Non Sequitur is the “empty bridge” of rhetoric. It is used to distract, confuse, and manipulate by linking a true or popular statement to an unrelated conclusion. In the age of social media, it is the primary tool for spreading misinformation—if you don’t spot the missing logical link, you can be led to support policies or ideas that have zero basis in reality. Mastering this concept is a survival skill for the information age, acting as a “nonsense detector” for every news article, political speech, and advertisement.
Core Concepts
- Universal Category: In a broad sense, every informal Logical Fallacy is a type of non sequitur, as they all represent a failure of the conclusion to be supported by the logic.
- Disconnected Premises: Using a premise that is irrelevant to the conclusion (e.g., “Swiss cheese is healthy because it is yellow”).
- Missing Link: The argument lacks the necessary intermediate steps to make the conclusion a necessary consequence of the premises.