Non sequitur



Non sequitur is a Latin word meaning "It does not follow". It is argument which moves from a premise to a conclusion where no connection exists between the two. For example:
 * E: "As evidence for common descent: The structures that all known organisms use to perform these four basic processes are all quite similar, in spite of the odds. All known living things use polymers to perform these four basic functions. Organic chemists have synthesized hundreds of different polymers, yet the only ones used by life, irrespective of species, are polynucleotides, polypeptides, and polysaccharides."
 * C: The argument is, in essence, "Because different forms of life are structured in similar ways, they are more likely to be related." But the fact that things are similar does not require that they are related.  An artist may use the same type of marble to make two sculptures, but that is not evidence that the sculptures are related.  Similarly, the Creator may use similar chemical mechanisms to construct life, but that is not evidence that the forms of life are related.  The chemical similarity of all life is consistent with both creation and evolution, and thus using it to defend Common descent is a non sequitur.