Why Is Slippery Slope Bad?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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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

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Is slippery slope a false cause fallacy?

According to Patrick Hurley in A Concise Introduction to Logic, “the fallacy of slippery slope is

a variety of the false cause fallacy

. It occurs when the conclusion of an argument rests on an alleged chain reaction and there is not sufficient reason to think that the chain reaction will actually take place”.

What is the slippery slope concern?

The slippery slope argument

views decisions not on their own

, but as the potential beginning of a trend. In general form, this argument says that if we allow something relatively harmless today, we may start a trend that results in something currently unthinkable becoming accepted.

How do you argue against a slippery slope fallacy?

  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 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.

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 respond to a slippery slope?

You can respond to a fallacious slippery slope by

attacking the proposed slope directly in a

variety of ways, such as by pointing out missing pieces in the slope, highlighting the disconnect between the different pieces of the slope, pointing out the distance between the start and end points of the slope, or …

What is another way to say slippery slope?


primrose path


garden

path
life of ease path of least resistance

How do you use slippery slope in a sentence?

  1. There we go again down the slippery slope of racial profiling. …
  2. Once the matter becomes one of preventative detention, an alarming slippery slope looms. …
  3. Scotland has started on the slippery slope toward tuition fees.

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.

What is a fairness slippery slope argument?

A fairness slippery slope argument is one

that exploits the vagueness of a category to argue that it is unfair to treat cases that fall into a category differently from cases that do not fall into that

category.

What is red herring fallacy?

This fallacy consists

in diverting attention from the real issue by focusing instead on an issue having only a surface relevance to the first

. Examples: Son: “Wow, Dad, it’s really hard to make a living on my salary.” Father: “Consider yourself lucky, son. Why, when I was your age, I only made $40 a week.”

What is an example of slippery?

The trails were muddy and slippery.

Fish are slippery

to hold. The sign cautions: “Slippery when wet.”

What is slippery slope in psychology?

The Slippery Slope Argument is

an argument that concludes that if an action is taken, other negative consequences will follow

. For example, “If event X were to occur, then event Y would (eventually) follow; thus, we cannot allow event X to happen.”

What is an example of a weak analogy?

If the two things that are being compared aren’t really alike in the relevant respects, the analogy is a weak one, and the argument that relies on it commits the fallacy of weak analogy. Example: “

Guns are like hammers

—they’re both tools with metal parts that could be used to kill someone.

What is the opposite of a slippery slope?


A Sticky Slope

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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.