False Premise
A premise is a proposition (often self-evident) from which another follows. An argument which starts with a false premise and draws consistent inferences from there is valid in logic, though its conclusions will almost always be wrong.F12
An argument based on a false premise from which an incorrect inference is drawn has a greater chance of stumbling upon the right conclusion: I will find the way home by following the local ley lines, so we will get there safely.
Related entries:
Different Premises, False Inference.
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