Wishful thinking:
| Definition | Example |
| When a position is encouraged based on what might be pleasing to imagine, rather than based on evidence or reason. | If there were no life after death, then this life would be rather meaningless, and so I choose to believe we have an eternal soul. |
| Notes | |
| This fallacy is perhaps the most human of all fallacies. It is almost to suggest that, if you want something or believe something strongly enough, that something must be or become true. | |
Case Study One
If it were argued that the desire of the majority of citizens for universal health care coverage makes it imperative that we pass a universal health care coverage bill, this would be committing the wishful thinking fallacy. There may be no possible way for some countries to pay for such a plan given their resources. The fact that something would make us happy does not mean we deserve or can realize that thing.
Keep in mind that a fallacious argument does not entail an erroneous position.
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