Can you give me an example of a non sequitur?

Answer 1

Lets say you are talking about the book Moby Dick. In the middle of your conversation someone brings up pink socks, that is a non sequitur.

It means anything that has no context to be brought up, that has nothing to do with anything that is going on.

Answer 2

From Wikipedia:
Non sequitur is Latin for "It does not follow."

IN LOGIC:
Here are two types of non sequitur of traditional noteworthiness:

1) Any argument that takes the following form is a non sequitur:

If A is true, then B is true.
B is stated to be true.
Therefore, A must be true.
Even if the premises and conclusion are all true (see 1.5), the conclusion is not a necessary consequence of the premises. This sort of non sequitur is also called affirming the consequent.

1.5) An example of a non sequitur where the premises and conclusion are all true would be:

If I am a human (A) then I am a mammal. (B)
I am a mammal. (B)
Therefore, I am a human. (A)
"I" could be another type of mammal without being a human. While the conclusion may be true, it does not follow from the premises. This argument is still a fallacy even if the conclusion is true. It is a non sequitur (note that it is the exact same argument form as in example 1 - the form is always a non sequitur).

2) Another common non sequitur is this:

If A then B. (e.g. If I am in Tokyo, I am in Japan.)
Not A. (e.g. I am not in Tokyo.)
Therefore, not B. (e.g. Therefore, I am not in Japan.)
The speaker could be anywhere else in Japan. This sort of non sequitur is called denying the antecedent.


ABSURDISM:

A non sequitur is a conversational and literary device, often used for comical purposes (as opposed to its use in formal logic). It is a comment which, due to its lack of meaning relative to the comment it follows, is absurd to the point of being humorous or confusing. Its use can be deliberate or unintentional. Literally, it is Latin for "it does not follow." In other literature, a non sequitur can denote an abrupt, illogical, unexpected or absurd turn of plot or dialogue not normally associated with or appropriate to that preceding it.

Non sequiturs often appear to be disconnected or random comments, or random changes in subject, especially socially inappropriate ones. When non sequiturs are used frequently this can be called "absurd humor".

The non sequitur can be understood as the converse of cliché. To illustrate: in theatre, traditional comedy and drama depend on the ritualization—that is, the predictability—of human emotional experiences. In contrast, the theatre of the absurd depends upon the disjunction—that is, the unpredictability—of that experience

Good Luck....