This argument shares features of a causal and precedential slippery slope. In this case, the argument is persuasive as there is good reason to believe that things will actually unfold in that manner. In no time, everybody and their grandmother is going to be running around doing pot!”, 1.Challenge the objectivity of the chain of events. 7 Poisoning the Well Examples Throughout Your Life, 7 Survivorship Bias Examples You See in the Real World, 9 Bandwagon Fallacy Examples to Prevent Poor Decisions, >> Click to Grab the FREE Book: The Morning Routine for Peak Performance<<. You don’t want the government telling you what to think is true, do you?”. Please do your own research before making any online purchase. It can be challenged because there is little empirical evidence to support its conclusions. Taking minor action will lead to extreme consequences. The goal is to persuade its target audience, in this case –to upgrade their cable subscription. Challenge the objectivity of the chain of events, If you give James a piece, then everyone else will see [The First Step down the Slippery Slope], Then, if everyone else sees, they will also ask for gum. 1. The Slippery Slope argument tends to come up a lot whenever a seemingly radical proposal is put on the table — such as legalizing marijuana, euthanasia or stem cell research. You could also argue that merely raising taxes on some class of individuals does not mean raising taxes on everyone, which is what the fallacious argument claims. The simple act of removing some historical artifact from a public place does not in itself count as censorship. Like any muscle, the brain needs practice to get stronger. Precedential slippery slope arguments can be fallacious as they ignore the possibility that we can determine when precedent should or should not be followed. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. There are some people—and I am one of them—who think that the most practical and important thing about a man is still his view of the universe. Lucinda Breeding. Addressing these incorrect assumptions directly might be more helpful than explaining the problem with the slope. This, they say, will first lead to loitering, then growing a ponytail. Next thing you know, all our history textbooks will be altered to remove the truth. That claim is just as unlikely as the claim that we should tax away everyone’s stuff. Consider the following argument: “We can’t let people throw their trash on the sidewalk because, over time, that could build up to a big public nuisance and health hazard.”. The above argument is a slippery slope fallacy because it posits a sequence of events that are weakly connected. For example, a slippery slope argument could involve saying that if we allow a relatively minor event to take place now, then a major and tragic event will happen in the near … The core of the slippery slope argument is that a specific decision under debate is likely to result in unintended consequences. A slippery slope argument takes an initial premise and sees it through a chain of consequences until you arrive at an unacceptable, undesirable, or disastrous outcome. Alex Bolano is a freelance writer based out of St. Louis. [Negative Outcome @ Bottom of the Slope]. I’ve taught a course on the History of American Conservatism for seven years now, and I’ve become increasingly aware of how central (essential, really) the “slippery slope” argument has been to American conservatism. Examples and Observations. When you begin to lie, you may find yourself on a slippery slope, lying more and to more people before you know it. Pointing out these missing pieces can lessen the bite of the argument. Pointing out a significant difference between the start point and endpoint might give a reason to think it’s justified to treat them in two different ways. If that happens, then other states will follow and that will lead to legalization of the drug nationwide. One bad event does not necessarily mean more bad events will happen. When accidents happen, you get an eye patch. Pointing out the distance between the two also makes it easier to see how it's unlikely one will lead to the other. legal sphere) where precedent plays an integral role in making decisions. A great tool to do this is to join over 1 million others and start your day with the latest FREE, informative news from this website. There may be cases where a certain decision will trigger events that in all likelihood result in something bad. President Trump said that the United States already has “very strong background checks” for gun purchasers and that officials need to be wary of the prospect of a “slippery slope” where “everything gets taken away,” The Hill reports. Before going into the examples, here is a definition of this fallacy. Get rid of cable, and upgrade to directv.”, “If we legalize marijuana, then people will come to believe that it is an acceptable drug. This argument can be considered fallacious as there is little reason to think that raising taxes in some areas will cause a spiraling descent into tyranny and communism. If marijuana is normalized, that will make it more likely that children and other impressionable people will partake. Therefore, we should not legalize recreational marijuana.”. Slippery Slope is a specific type of logical fallacy.A logical fallacy is a flawed argument. If C then D 4. not-D Therefore, not-A It’s a series of connected conditional claims, to the effect that if you assume that A is true or allow A to occur, then B will follow, and if B follows then C … Also known as absurd extrapolation, thin edge of the wedge, and camel’s nose under the tent. The more people get free stuff, the less they will work which will eventually lead to economic ruin.”. So just because a chain of events precedes an outcome, does not mean that it is fallacious. If I flunk out entirely then my entire future is ruined and I will never be able to get a good job and provide for a family!”. A good counterexample to this type of thinking is the category “bald.” There is no definite number of hairs that separates someone from being bald or not bald, but we can recognize clear instances of the two categories. A very slippery slope. The notion behind slippery slope arguments is that – we shouldn’t do something such as A… because A will lead to B, and B will lead to C and so on… until we end up with something bad. Still, this kind of slippery slope argument is incredibly rare, due to the chaotic uncertainty that defines the future. Referring back to the chewing gum example, you could question your assumptions: How likely is it that if I give out one piece of gum, that others will also ask for one? To learn more about fallacious arguments, here's an in-depth article about logical fallacies and why it's important to recognize them. But each is to a product that we've researched and highly recommend. It claims that changing the definition of marriage to include gay couples is no different than changing the definition to allow people to marry animals and objects. A great tool to do this is to join over 1 million others and start your day with the latest FREE, informative news from this website.). If we change the definition to include gay couples then we will soon change it again to cover other things. In other words, the argument pattern fails if there is little reason to think that A will lead to B, or that B will lead C, and so on. Today, we are going to talk about 7 slippery slope fallacy examples and how to avoid them in your everyday life. Mr. Clean is bald and Cousin It is not bald. This argument has a slippery slope structure. Observe the events that the argument passes through. A slippery slope is “a fallacy in which a claim is made with insufficient evidence that if a certain action is taken, it would eventually lead to dire consequences.” 9 In this Taco Bell commercial, two elderly men reel in shock at the idea of a waffle taco. Why Conservative “Slippery Slope” arguments undermine American democracy (and have always been intended to do so). Slippery Slope Examples . That candy bar sure wasn’t doing anybody any good just sitting there in the bedside drawer. Precedential slippery slopes are usually combined with all-or-nothing thinking and often start by assuming a false dichotomy between two options. The key to shaking this kind of causal slippery slope is realizing that it's fallacious! Politics and the pulpit: Experts trace slippery slope churches face when electioneering By Lucinda Breeding Features Editor cbreeding@dentonrc.com. We've also seen it by Bill Clinton in the Monica Lewinsky affair. Here is one you may have heard recently in the news: Argument: “If we allow the government to remove Confederate statues from public places, then it’s a short road to the government trying to erase and censor history. Slippery slope arguments are not inherently fallacious. A common one that's been going around for a few years now is about gay marriage. Counterargument: Pretty much everyone is guilty of “catastrophizing” like this sometimes. Also, if you're interested in learning about other types of fallacies, here's our in-depth look at the straw man fallacy. He holds his MA in Philosophy and writes on topics relating to science, culture, politics, finance, and education. This argument pattern is fallacious when the claimed links between the events in the chain are weak or non-existent. 7 Slippery Slope Examples and Counterarguments, How to Respond to Slippery Slope Arguments, Final Thoughts on Slippery Slope Fallacies, A great tool to do this is to join over 1 million others and start your day with the latest FREE, informative news from this website, Emphasize the distance between the start and end, here's an in-depth article about logical fallacies and why it's important to recognize them, do not discourage people from looking for work, Either Or (“False Dilemma”) Fallacy Examples, Anchoring Bias Examples That Impact Your Decisions, Circular Reasoning Examples (or “Begging the Question”), Straw Man Fallacy Examples & How You Can Respond, Hasty Generalization Fallacy Examples & How to Respond to Them, How to Overcome the Sunk Cost Fallacy Mindset, False Dichotomy Examples & How to Counter Them, False Equivalence Examples to Know Before Your Next Argument, how our brains are wired for making predictions, educating your critical thinking faculties, here's our in-depth look at the straw man fallacy, 200+ of the Best Self-Help and Personal Development Books, 71 Morning Routine Ideas to Successfully Start Your Day, Learn Something New: 101 New Skills to Learn Starting Today, Best Pedometer Watch (and Wearable) Review for 2020, An endpoint that is significant or extreme, A series of small steps to connect one to the other. Hate Speech and the slippery slope fallacy. Examples of Slippery Slope in a sentence Taking drugs is a slippery slope, and if you start you may find yourself addicted, which will lead to a life of dependency and pain. Argument: “If we provide free healthcare then where does it stop? In the press, the phrase ' slippery slope ' is more than seven times as common as it was twenty years ago. Removing statues meant to venerate Confederate generals is not erasing history and is unlikely to cause massive government censorship of history. If there is one MP who personifies the year in politics it would probably be Zali Steggall. Here’s the schematic form of a slippery slope argument. A slippery slope fallacy is a fallacious pattern of reasoning that claims that allowing some small event now will eventually culminate in a significant and (usually) negative final effect later. Argument: “I cannot make an exception for you, or else I would have to make an exception for others in the class. Logic and critical thinking textbooks typically discuss slippery slope arguments as a form of fallacy but usually acknowledge that "slippery slope arguments can be good ones if the slope is real—that is, if there is good evidence that the consequences of the initial action are highly likely to occur. We shouldn’t increase the speed limit.”. It’s fallacious because it treats the issue as if everyone always has to be granted an exception equally. The main point is that slippery slope-style arguments can be evaluated based on the strength of the claimed links between events. [Down the Slope], Eventually, there will be none left for you. Hopes for new gun control legislation are slipping away again, as the president backs off earlier promises to “lead the charge” on background checks. Voluntary euthanasia is carried out under the express wishes of the patient and occurs with their consent. Conceptual slippery slope arguments can be fallacious as they deny that 2 categories of things are different because you can transition from one to the other through a series of small steps. The commercial presents the exaggerated chain of events that are likely to occur because of one small decision. Involuntary euthanasia does not involve the consent of the patient. Causal slippery slopes can be fallacious when there is little evidence to support the idea that one event will cause another and so on. You have just put forth a slippery slope argument in response to James. If possible, present a counterexample to show your opponent’s logic is flawed. Various laws have exceptions but the laws still manage to function. Try to find a reason that we can stop the slope in the transition period. Counterargument: Again, this argument assumes that a small event will have catastrophic consequences down the road. In the corporate world, the ethical slippery slope can stifle one's career and do harm to that person's reputation. In extenuating circumstances, it may be correct to give an exception to some established rules. The idea is that if we treat a seemingly small thing a certain way now, we will have to treat a significant thing the same way in the future. And the surgery wasn’t for another hour or two, so ... 10/14/13 AT 5:37 PM. That's what the Nazis did after all!”. You could also argue that legalizing some substance won’t necessarily make it more popular in the public consciousness. Overcoming these kinds of limiting beliefs is important to navigate the world effectively. [Down the Slope] There’s this commercial for a cable company DirecTv which aired a few years ago. Again referring back to the chewing gum example: Would it be so bad If I gave my classmates gum? "To judge from the news stories, the entire nation is coming to resemble San Francisco after a heavy rainfall. Slippery slope-slope style arguments can are a kind of hypothetical reasoning and are made up of conditional claims: Where A is the first event, Z is the final event, and B-Y are the intermediate links in the chain. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. When it comes to politics, you see this kind of argument fairly often, but it usually comes from everyday people instead of political leaders. The exact way to respond to a slippery slope argument depends on the kind of slippery slope it is and what the specifics of the argument are. We tell ourselves that one bad thing will inevitably lead to another and another until our worst nightmares come true. Before you know it, everyone will be doing drugs! If B then C 3. Say you’re debating a friend over the topic of marijuana legalization and they say this: “If we legalize recreational marijuana, then marijuana will become normalized in public life. A Slippery Slope argument is a version of a Red Herring. If I flunk the class, I will flunk out of school entirely. It wouldn’t be so bad If I had none left, I’ll just buy another packet later. There are many examples of the ethical slippery slope such as the case of Lance Armstrong where he lied for years about taking performance enhancing drugs. The argument is even more unconvincing when you realize that, according to its own logic, we shouldn’t have any taxes whatsoever. What matters is the reason for granting the exception. That candy bar sure wasn’t doing anybody any good just sitting there in the bedside drawer. Premise A leads to B, which leads to C, which leads to D, and so on. (Getty Images) A pervasive fallacy that regularly fools millions. It claims that allowing some relatively small event (letting people litter) will lead to some larger negative effects (public annoyance and health issues). Precedential slippery slope arguments are based on saying that some current behavior or event will set a precedent for future behavior or events. This example is not a fallacy. We think that for a landlady considering a lodger, it is important to know his income, but still more important to … And when people want to see how tough, you wake up in a roadside ditch. Please do your own research before making any online purchase. Involuntary euthanasia is murder and murder is already illegal. Slippery slope fallacies are fairly common in everyday life and often go undetected. Fallacious thinking can have serious negative consequences, so educating your critical thinking faculties to recognize fallacies like slippery slopes is an invaluable skill. Example: "We need to stop colleges from raising tuition every year. Now, your spidey senses might be tingling a bit. [Down the Slope], Then, you’ll end up giving everyone else in class a gum. If A then B 2. The slippery slope in this example is the chain of events that you think will follow if you give your friend James a piece of gum. Counterargument: This argument combines aspects of a conceptual, precedential, and causal slippery slope. There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. When you get angry, you go blow off steam. You’ll have likely heard some forms of at least one or two arguments below. For example, in discussions about legalizing marijuana for medical issues, people go down the slope when they suggest it could lead to the legalization of harder street drugs. In all these examples, we haven't yet slid off the slope, but we are heading there. Philosophers have identified 3 major kinds of slippery slope fallacies: It can be difficult to tell the types apart in normal conversation and many commonly encountered slippery slope arguments involve aspects of all three types. The next thing you know, we will have people wanting to marry animals and inanimate objects. Identifying instances of slippery slope argument in everyday life will help you make more effective decisions, promote self-awareness, and liberate you from constrained thinking habits. The main point is that slippery slope-style arguments can be evaluated based on the strength of the claimed links between events. There might be a good reason to think the slope will not proceed all the way if there is a principled stopping point. Conceptual slippery slope fallacies ignore the possibility that we can differentiate between things even if they exist on a continuum or spectrum. Consider this argument against increasing speed limits: “If the speed limit is increased from 5o to 60, then it is likely that people will drive faster, and if they drive faster, it will lead to more road accidents. Here are a few general approaches to keep in mind: If your opponent did not provide any evidence to support their suggested slope, then ask them to justify their view. There are many different types of logical fallacy. Fallacious causal slippery slope arguments rely on exaggerating the strength or severity of causal connections between events. And a single bad event is unlikely to lead directly to disastrous consequences. For example, if your opponent argues that legalizing gay marriage will lead to obscene behavior, you could just as easily claim that restricting gay marriage could lead to restrictions on other kinds of marriage, eventually banning it altogether. Do the connections have some certainty or are they just assumptions without evidence? Better Cognitions is a Blog Dedicated to Learning, Wisdom, and Growth. Sometimes a slippery slope is based on false assumptions. If there is little evidence that the presented causal chain is likely, then the argument is weak. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. By using gradated language, it obscures the fact that there is a clear conceptual distinction between voluntary and involuntary euthanasia. Slippery slope arguments are all over the place in political discussions. This argument is an example of a slippery slope fallacy. The argument leaves out the possibility that there is a reasonable definition that explains why animals and inanimate objects can be excluded from the category of marriage. Slippery slope-style arguments are often fallacious, but the reason why they are fallacious differs depending on the kind of slippery slope argument it is. The Winter Olympian slalomed out of the blue to soundly defeat former prime minister Tony Abbott in … It may not be true that the future will be like the past; the future could be different. A slippery slope is an argument that suggests that a certain initial action could lead to a chain of events with a relatively extreme result, or that if we treat one case a certain way then we will have to treat more extreme cases the same way too. Precedential-style slope arguments might be valid in specific contexts (e.g. Copyright 2019 by Oldtown Publishing LLC. Soon people will be asking for free cars, free cell phones, free food, and free everything. Follow CNN Politics. After all, taxes and forms of private property have coexisted in pretty much every single society throughout history. Finally, if you want another positive way to improve your life, then read and learn something new every day. For instance, a prerequisite of marriage is that it must take place between two consenting adults. In response, you could argue that it’s unlikely legalizing marijuana will make children more likely to use it. Paul Osborne. Next thing you know, a semester's tuition will cost How Even if some hypothetical sequence of events is possible, the argument is fallacious if it is unlikely that the sequence of events will actually happen. Affiliate links are used on this site. If that happens then before you know it, I’ll have to give everyone in the class a piece of gum. The Mission: To Publish Content on Personal Development Popular Reads “High Performance Habits” Summary System 1 Vs. System 2 Thinking… “A Guide to Rational Living” Summary Recently Published Contact ShareTweet Red Herring - Diverting attention by changing the subject In this example from Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign ad "Seven", we see an attack on John McCain's understanding of the economic system as it was at that point in time. When people think you’re tough, people want to see how tough. The argument is that we have to do everything we can to stop the spread of communism or it will eventually take over the world. Arguments for voluntary euthanasia end up going down the slope to involuntary euthanasia. Argument: “If I fail this test, then I will flunk the class. Slippery slope is one example of a fallacy. One explanation for our tendency to think in this fallacious manner has to do with how our brains are wired for making predictions. The Logical Structure of this fallacy is as follows: Here are 3 slippery slope fallacy examples. He enjoys playing video games and researching the latest trends in science and technology. "The Slippery Slope: How Small Ethical Transgressions Pave the Way for Larger Future Transgressions" gives some experimental examples: Many recent corporate scandals have been described as resulting from a slippery slope in which a series of small infractions gradually increased over time (e.g., McLean & … They also assume that the beginning and ending positions of the argument are similar enough that precedent would apply between them. When you go blow off steam, accidents happen. Slippery slope arguments are fallacious when the claimed links between the events are unlikely or exaggerated. (Side note: Another positive way to improve your life is to read and learn something new every day. That’s the slippery slope fallacy, in a nutshell. Argument: “We should not allow doctors to end the life of terminally ill patients because if we do, it’s not far off from letting doctors euthanize healthy people or people that they believe to be genetically inferior. Therefore, we should not change the definition of marriage.”. If those links are weak, then the argument is likely committing a slippery slope fallacy. Allowing voluntary euthanasia won’t change that. (3) Slippery Slope Fallacy. It’s a textbook example of the slippery slope fallacy. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s very slippery slope on facts. Show how you can prevent the initial event from leading to the final event. There are several modern countries with universal healthcare that have healthy economies and don’t have a problem of people wanting too much free stuff. Slippery Slope Fallacies IN POLITICS Paloma, Omar, Raquel, and Rakel What is a slippery slope fallacy? Argument: “We cannot allow more taxation, as any taxation incentivizes more taxation, which will inevitably lead to the loss of all private property and tyranny.”. One way to do this might be to point out how slippery slope arguments can often be applied in both directions of an issue. There are many but perhaps the worst is the slippery slope of the spread of communism. Argument: “Marriage is defined as a man and a woman. When you get an eye patch, people think you’re tough. I’m teaching a college public speaking course and needed good examples of logical fallacies to help my students think critically about the methods speakers use to persuade their audiences. A slippery slope argument (SSA), in logic, critical thinking, political rhetoric, and caselaw, is an argument in which a party asserts that a relatively small first step leads to a chain of related events culminating in some significant (usually negative) effect. The burden of proof is on them to make their case. There is actually evidence that universal health care schemes are good for the economy and that welfare programs do not discourage people from looking for work. Point out how the argument leaves out a lot of events between the first and last points. Despite their differences, all 3 types of slippery slope arguments share 3 core features: Here are some examples of slippery slope arguments in the wild. The slippery slope in this example is the chain of events that you think will follow if you give your friend James a piece of gum. Conceptual slippery slopes share features in common with the continuum fallacy (sometimes called a Sorites fallacy). You can definitely tell something is wrong with the above argument, but you can’t quite put your finger on exactly what. Humans have a natural knack for visualizing lines of possibilities, but this talent can get in the way of our rational faculties. Counterargument: This argument has features of a causal and precedential slippery slope. Eventually, I would have to make exceptions for everyone else and then the rules would be utterly meaningless!”. Today, we are going to talk about 7 slippery slope fallacy examples and how to avoid them in your everyday life. Counterargument: This argument combines aspects of a conceptual and precedential slippery slope fallacy. Counterargument: This causal/precedential slippery slope pattern is commonly seen in arguments about whether we should increase or decrease taxes. The slippery slope fallacy is an argument that claims that if one thing happens or is allowed to happen, then that will lead to other steps and ultimately to a final outcome. Sometimes, a slippery slope argument can be an instance of valid reasoning. Historical facts about the Confederacy are still kept track of in libraries and museums and there is no movement to censor those things. Animals and objects are neither of those things so they can be excluded. Specifically, this is a claim that a policy which takes a small step in one direction will lead to a chain of events that will result in drastic change.