Appeal to Consequences is a fallacious way of reasoning that occurs when someone argues that a certain statement or proposition must be true or false based on the positive or negative consequences that would follow if it were true or false. This type of argument is often used to persuade someone to accept a particular conclusion by exploiting their emotions and desires, rather than by presenting evidence or logical reasoning. The fallacy occurs when the truth of a statement is determined by its consequences, rather than by its evidence or logical validity. One of the key aspects of Appeal to Consequences is that it is a form of wishful thinking that can lead to erroneous conclusions. When someone argues that a statement must be true or false based on its consequences, they are essentially saying that they want the statement to be true or false, regardless of whether or not it is actually true. This type of reasoning can be particularly dangerous in situations where important decisions are being made, such as in politics or business. Another important aspect of Appeal to Consequences is that it can be difficult to detect. Because this type of reasoning is often based on emotions and desires, rather than evidence or logic, it can be very persuasive to those who are not trained in critical thinking. In order to avoid falling prey to this fallacy, it is important to always examine the evidence and logical validity of an argument, rather than simply accepting it based on its consequences. In conclusion, Appeal to Consequences is a fallacious way of reasoning that occurs when someone argues that a statement must be true or false based on its consequences, rather than on its evidence or logical validity. This type of reasoning is often used to manipulate people's emotions and desires, and can lead to erroneous conclusions. To avoid falling prey to this fallacy, it is important to always examine the evidence and logical validity of an argument, rather than simply accepting it based on its consequences.
fallacy, reasoning, evidence, emotions, desires
Appeal to Consequences is a way of thinking where someone argues that a certain thing should or should not be done because of the outcome. It's like a shortcut to making a decision because it doesn't look at all the facts or evidence and instead looks only at the potential result. For example, a person might say that a certain action should be done because it will have a good result, without considering if it's a good idea or not.
Consequence, Bias, Fallacy
Appeal to Consequences is a cognitive bias and logical fallacy in which a person attempts to justify a conclusion by appealing to the desired outcomes of the argument, rather than its evidence or logical validity. This type of argument is often employed to manipulate a person's emotions by rewarding them for accepting the conclusion, or punishing them for not accepting it. It is a form of wishful thinking which can be used to persuade someone to adopt a certain opinion by exploiting their desires. The use of this technique in argumentation has been identified as a logical fallacy since at least the ancient Greeks.
Appeal to Consequences, Emotional Argumentation, Cognitive Bias, Logical Fallacy, Wishful Thinking.
CITATION : "Jessica Adams. 'Appeal To Consequences.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=214057 (Accessed on April 20, 2025)"
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