Legal Definitions - non sequitur

Definition: Non sequitur is a Latin phrase that means "it does not follow." It is used to describe a logical fallacy or an illogical conclusion. This occurs when an inference or conclusion is made that does not follow from the premise. Non sequitur can also refer to a response or comment that has no connection to what was previously said, a random remark.

• John is a great basketball player. Therefore, he must be good at math. (This is a non sequitur because being good at basketball does not necessarily mean someone is good at math.)
• Person A: "I think we should invest in renewable energy." Person B: "I heard that the new Star Wars movie is coming out soon." (This is a non sequitur because Person B's response has nothing to do with what Person A said.)

These examples illustrate how a non sequitur can be a logical fallacy or a random remark that has no connection to the previous statement. It is important to avoid making non sequiturs in arguments or conversations to ensure that the discussion stays on topic and logical.