What Is A Slippery Slope Argument And How Does It Affect Court Decisions?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The core of the slippery slope argument is that a

specific decision under debate is likely to result in unintended consequences

. The strength of such an argument depends on whether the small step really is likely to lead to the effect.

What is slippery slope in an argument?

In a slippery slope argument,

a course of action is rejected because

, with little or no evidence, one insists that it will lead to a chain reaction resulting in an undesirable end or ends. The slippery slope involves an acceptance of a succession of events without direct evidence that this course of events will happen.

How does the slippery slope argument affect court decisions?

While a court can compartmentalize the use of a slippery slope argument within a single case, the precedential effect of any one case upon another creates a separate inquiry. This inquiry considers how today’s decision (X) affects

the likelihood of an undesirable future decision (Y)

(where Y would not occur but for X).

What does it mean when a court starts down a slippery slope?


an idea or course of action which will lead inevitably to something unacceptable, wrong, or disastrous

.

What is a slippery slope argument quizlet?

Slippery slope fallacy.

An argument that rests on an unsupported warning that is controversial to the effect that something will progress by degrees to an undesirable outcome

. We should not require gun owners to carry liability insurance , because if we do that, before long they will repeal the second amendment.

Why is slippery slope bad?

When it comes to conceptual slippery slopes, a proposed slope is

generally fallacious because it ignores the ability to differentiate between two things even if it’s possible to transition from

one of them to the other using a series of small steps.

Why should we avoid slippery slope?

In the field of informal logic, the slippery-slope argument is

a fallacy when the endpoint does not follow necessarily from the initial step

, which is especially obvious if there are many (unidentified) intervening stages involved. …

What is a slippery slope example?

One of the most common real-life slippery slope examples is when you

‘re tempted by an unhealthy treat

. The typical thought process goes something like this: If I eat this donut today, I’ll probably eat another donut tomorrow. If I eat one donut tomorrow, I might eat several donuts the next day.

What is begging the question fallacy?

The fallacy of begging the question occurs

when an argument’s premises assume the truth of the conclusion, instead of supporting it

. In other words, you assume without proof the stand/position, or a significant part of the stand, that is in question. Begging the question is also called arguing in a circle.

How do you identify a slippery slope fallacy?

A slippery slope fallacy occurs

when someone makes a claim about a series of events that would lead to one major event

, usually a bad event. In this fallacy, a person makes a claim that one event leads to another event and so on until we come to some awful conclusion.

How do you stop slippery slope?

  1. Make sure the chain is complete. Explain each step of your argument as clearly as possible. …
  2. Make sure each link in the chain is valid. …
  3. Be careful not to overestimate the likeliness of your conclusion.

What is another way to say slippery slope?


primrose path


garden

path
life of ease path of least resistance

Is slippery slope actually a fallacy?

Slippery slope.

A slippery slope argument

is not always a fallacy

. A slippery slope fallacy is an argument that says adopting one policy or taking one action will lead to a series of other policies or actions also being taken, without showing a causal connection between the advocated policy and the consequent policies.

Which of the following is a slippery slope fallacy quizlet?


A course of actions or events that seems to lead from one action or an event to another with unintended consequences

.

Which of the following best characterizes the benefits argument?

Which of the following best characterizes the Benefits argument?

If we can benefit people without harming anyone, then we should do so

. … If a valid argument has a true conclusion, then at least one premise must be true.

What is the straw man fallacy quizlet?

Definition. The Straw Man fallacy is

committed when a person simply ignores a person’s actual position and substitutes a exaggerated or misrepresented version of that position

.

David Martineau
Author
David Martineau
David is an interior designer and home improvement expert. With a degree in architecture, David has worked on various renovation projects and has written for several home and garden publications. David's expertise in decorating, renovation, and repair will help you create your dream home.