The Davinci Code

[Aenlic]

Argumentum ad populem and argumentum ad numerum are logical fallacies used in arguments.

Argumentum ad populem, argument or appeal to the public, also known as the "30 million Elvis fans" fallacy, attempts to prove an argument by claiming that the assertion is true because most of the public agrees with it. It is basically a claim that the majority opinion is always the correct opinion, which is obviously wrong.

Argumentum ad numerum, argument or appeal to numbers, is basically the same thing. Both logical fallacies are essentially identical - an appeal to a claim of fact based on majority opinion; although ad populem tends to be made in more general terms such as "everyone says it's true" therefore it must be true.

http://www.csun.edu/~dgw61315/fallacies.html