Which reasoning error occurs when one overlooks that correlation does not imply causation?

The reasoning error that occurs when one mistakenly assumes that correlation implies causation is known as Post Hoc. This term originates from the Latin phrase "post hoc, ergo propter hoc," which translates to "after this, therefore because of this." This fallacy occurs when it is assumed that since two events occur together or in sequence, one must be the cause of the other, without any supporting evidence that demonstrates this causal relationship.

For example, if one were to observe that after a specific political event, a rise in the stock market followed, concluding that the political event caused the rise would be an application of the Post Hoc fallacy. The rise could be due to other factors unrelated to the political event, but the error lies in making a causal connection based solely on the sequence or occurrence of the two events.

Understanding this fallacy helps clarify why it’s critical to investigate the relationships between events instead of jumping to conclusions based on surface-level observations, thereby avoiding oversimplification in complex systems.