Which fallacy argues that a minor step will lead to a major, undesirable outcome?

Prepare for the EAPP Grade 12 Test. Enhance your skills with detailed flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Boost your confidence and get exam-ready today!

Multiple Choice

Which fallacy argues that a minor step will lead to a major, undesirable outcome?

A slippery slope fallacy is at work when an author argues that a small first step will inevitably lead to a sequence of events causing a much more extreme or undesirable outcome, without enough evidence that that chain reaction will actually happen. It relies on fear of consequences and assumes inevitability, rather than showing a solid, causal progression between steps. For example, claiming that allowing a minor concession will inevitably lead to widespread chaos and collapse ignores the possibility that safeguards or context can prevent the chain of events. By contrast, bandwagon appeals to popularity, ad hominem attacks focus on the person rather than the argument, and begging the question uses circular reasoning where the conclusion is presupposed in the premises.

A slippery slope fallacy is at work when an author argues that a small first step will inevitably lead to a sequence of events causing a much more extreme or undesirable outcome, without enough evidence that that chain reaction will actually happen. It relies on fear of consequences and assumes inevitability, rather than showing a solid, causal progression between steps. For example, claiming that allowing a minor concession will inevitably lead to widespread chaos and collapse ignores the possibility that safeguards or context can prevent the chain of events.

By contrast, bandwagon appeals to popularity, ad hominem attacks focus on the person rather than the argument, and begging the question uses circular reasoning where the conclusion is presupposed in the premises.

More practice questions