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Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc

X happened, then Y happened; therefore, X caused Y — an example of a time sequence implying causation.

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Origin

Latin for 'after this, therefore because of this.' The fallacy of mistaking sequence for causation has been recognized since antiquity — Aristotle catalogued it in his Sophistical Refutations (c. 350 BC). It remains one of the most commonly cited fallacies in philosophy, science, and public discourse.

Updated February 22, 2026