The book explains this fallacy as reasoning in a chain with conditionals where at least one of them is false. His is a good explanation but I would like to break it down a bit and explain it to you all better. This fallacy starts with a small action or statement that automatically leads to a bigger ending ignoring a middle ground that could change the out come. One real life example that I have heard in the past would be that if you grow a vegetable garden you will be able to live of your vegetables and never need to by them again. This is a fallacy because it leaves out the middle ground it does not say anything about you having to grow large quantities of vegetable and that you would need to grow them all year round. It also doe not count that fact that you may not be able to grow them and then they die you would be forced to go to the store and bye them. Slippery slope is really easy to get in to and people need to be carefull.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Fallacy's: a Slippery Slope!
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I like the slippery slope concept you discussed, and I guess in other words you could say it’s kind of like, “beating around the bush.” It’s used to move their way around an argument so that it seems strong, good, or valid, but ignoring important facts of premises that could prove otherwise. I mean, come on now, it would be ideal to live off my vegetable garden forever, and if I have my own I would certainly try. But you are right when you say there’s just a whole middle ground being totally ignored for the fact it disproves their argument. This slippery slope is very blatant, but are all slippery slopes as blatant as this example? I was just wondering if it were less obvious, if it would still be considered a slippery slope or if it was a strong argument due to unlikeliness.
ReplyDeleteI also like the slippery slope - another annology might be how the cost of a house addition goes up - that's a slippery slope. First, you decide that you want to change a doorway and window. The contractor quotes you a price. Then he brings materials for your selection. You choose something a little more expensive that you originally thought. That gets installed.
ReplyDeleteThen you notice that the wood doesn't match your floors, so you need to get the floors stained. Then you notice the kitchen cabinets don't match the stain on the floor...etc.
So the price continues to rise, bit by bit. If only you hadn't made that first decision to change your materials.