# 27. Rhetorical manipulation ## 27.5. Methodology/Refinements/Sub-species ### 27.5.1. Cognitive Appeal #### 27.5.1.6. Appeal to Popular Belief This is the assertion that something is true simply because a lot of people believe it. This is a constant trick, where the manipulator asserts "50 million people can't be wrong, can they?." In fact, yes, 50 million people can be wrong. History is full of cases were they were: the Flat Earth, the Sun revolving around the Earth etc. These were all popular beliefs and all were wrong. ***Parent:** [[Cognitive Appeal]]*