What type of reasoning does the "ad populum fallacy" engage in?

The "ad populum fallacy" engages in an appeal to popular opinion rather than facts. This fallacy occurs when an argument asserts that a proposition is true simply because many people believe it to be true, relying on the popularity of an idea or belief as evidence for its validity. By placing emphasis on the majority opinion instead of supporting the claim with solid evidence or logical reasoning, the argument sidesteps the necessary critical analysis required for a sound conclusion. This tactic can be persuasive in rhetoric but fails to genuinely validate the argument on its own merit, leading to potentially misleading conclusions based solely on popularity.

In contrast, logical deduction based on evidence, critical evaluation of all sides, and emotional reasoning involve more rigorous analytical processes or valid types of persuasion that do not rely on the popularity of beliefs.