Argumentum ad lunam

Argumentum ad lunam (also appeal to the Moon[1]) is the argument that, "if we can put a man on the Moon", we must also be able to X (usually something really important).

Cogito ergo sum
Logic and rhetoric
Key articles
General logic
Bad logic
v - t - e

The argument is almost always an informal fallacy and a false analogy.

Form

Bo Bennett raises the following examples:[2]

P: We can put a man on the Moon.
C1: (unstated) We can do anything.
C2: We can end world hunger.

While C1 might be stated differently (if it is stated), its ludicrosity is obvious. Just because you can do one thing, does not mean you can do another (usually) unrelated thing.

There is one (mostly) non-fallacious form of the fallacy:

P1: We put a man on the Moon in 1969!
P2: (unstated) We can do things we've done before!
C: We can put a man on the Moon today!

P2 here seems much stronger — usually, people can do things in repetition. In this case, however, such an illusion falls away with a glance at NASA's budget.

gollark: It would probably scare new players, but that *does* need to be said somewhere.
gollark: Oh, that *is* true.
gollark: It does describe it quite well, I think.
gollark: That's the help text for it.
gollark: ```Eggs and hatchlings can become sick when they receive too many views, unique views, and clicks in a short period of time. Although sickness can occur at any time, eggs are most vulnerable when first laid. If an egg or hatchling continues to receive too many views, unique views, and clicks while sick, it may die.To “cure” an egg or hatchling of sickness, simply reduce the rate at which it is receiving views, unique views, and clicks. This may be as simple as removing the egg or hatchling from any sites you have posted it on. Since the hide action prevents eggs and hatchlings from receiving views, unique views, and clicks, it can be a useful tool at combating sickness.```

See also

xkcd's take

References
  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20100110094513/http://www.sinclair.edu/centers/wc/LogicalFallacy/index.cfm
  2. Appeal to the Moon, Logically Fallacious
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