Slippery Slope

Disciplines > Argument > Fallacies > Slippery Slope

Description | Discussion | Example | See also

Description

The Slippery Slope is a series of statements that have a superficial connection with one another, and which lead into what is usually a rather far-fetched a conclusion.

Use it when you are in relatively unsophisticated company where such obvious lack of logic will go unchallenged. In more thoughtful company, you will need a more subtle approach.

Example

If we ban smoking, then people will start taking soft drugs and then move onto hard drugs, and the crime rate will go up and up. We should therefore prevent crime by allowing smoking.

Discussion

The Slippery Slope is particularly obvious in its lack of real reason, yet it appears surprisingly often. It is often used in emotional situations where careful thought is replaced by an irrational need for illogical proof and justification.

Classification

Assumptive, Causal

Also known as

Absurd Extrapolation