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In a slippery slope argument, a course of action is rejected because the slippery slope advocate believes it will lead to a chain reaction resulting in an undesirable end or ends. The core of the slippery slope argument is that a specific decision under debate is likely to result in unintended consequences .
Apr 14, 2023 · Learn what a slippery slope fallacy is and how to spot it in arguments. Find out the different types of slippery slope arguments and see examples from advertising, media and politics.
Sep 8, 2022 · The slippery slope fallacy is the assumption that one event will lead to a specific outcome, or that two distinct events must be handled the same way because of an overlapping characteristic, regardless of the presence of data to support this claim.
- Lindsay Kramer
- Internet Privacy. "If we allow the government to access our data for national security, soon they'll be spying on our conversations and activities." This argument assumes that allowing limited government access for a specific reason will automatically spiral into violating personal privacy.
- Soft Drinks and Health. "If you start drinking one soda a day, you'll become addicted and eventually suffer from obesity and diabetes." Here, the argument goes from a single daily soda to extreme health consequences without providing steps or evidence in between.
- Video Games and Violence. "Playing violent video games will desensitize you to violence, and you'll eventually become aggressive in real life." This argument suggests that an initial action—playing a violent video game—will lead to extreme real-world consequences.
- Legalizing Marijuana. "If we legalize marijuana, then people will start pushing for the legalization of harder drugs like cocaine and heroin." This argument assumes that legalizing one substance will automatically lead to the push for legalizing all substances, a slippery slope without concrete evidence.
Learn about the fallacy of slippery slope argument, which is based on the assumption that a certain course of action or proposition leads to undesirable or implausible consequences. Find examples, definitions, and related topics in this Britannica article.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Oct 6, 2020 · Learn what a slippery slope argument is and how it can be used as a logical fallacy or a valid reasoning. Explore different metaphors and examples of slippery slope in various contexts, such as politics, science, and ethics.
May 31, 2022 · The slippery slope argument is generally used to discourage someone from affirming or taking a specific course of action on the grounds that it will lead to a worst-case-scenario outcome.
