Which of these statements is an example of a non sequitur?
A. I have read 100 books per year because I enjoy reading.
B. People who read 100 books per year can read very quickly.
C. I haven’t read 100 books per year, so I don’t care about reading.
D. People who read 100 books per year can get books from many places.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is C. I haven’t read 100 books per year, so I don’t care about reading.
Explanation of Non Sequitur
A non sequitur is a logical fallacy in which a conclusion does not logically follow from the premises or statements that precede it. In simpler terms, it occurs when someone makes a statement or an argument that lacks a clear connection to what has been previously said. This often leads to confusion and misinterpretation of the argument being presented.
In statement C, the speaker asserts that because they haven’t read 100 books per year, they don’t care about reading. This conclusion is flawed because the amount of books read does not necessarily correlate with a person’s interest or passion for reading. One can care deeply about literature, knowledge, and education without adhering to a specific quantity of books read annually. Thus, the conclusion about not caring for reading does not logically follow from the premise of not reading 100 books.
Conversely, the other statements present more coherent relationships:
- A expresses a clear cause-and-effect relationship: enjoying reading leads to reading many books.
- B states a reasonable observation: people who read a lot likely have developed speed-reading skills.
- D makes a logical connection between reading a high volume of books and the various sources from which one can obtain them, suggesting that those who read often have access to diverse reading materials.
Thus, statement C exemplifies a non sequitur because it draws an illogical conclusion based on an irrelevant premise, illustrating a common misunderstanding in reasoning about interests and abilities.