Appeal to consequences, also known as argumentum ad consequentiam (Latin for "argument to the consequence"), is an argument that concludes a hypothesis (typically a belief) to be either true or false based on whether the premise leads to desirable or undesirable consequences.[1] This is based on an appeal to emotion and is a type of informal fallacy, since the desirability of a premise's consequence does not make the premise true. Moreover, in categorizing consequences as either desirable or undesirable, such arguments inherently contain subjective points of view.
In logic, appeal to consequences refers only to arguments that assert a conclusion's truth value (true or false) without regard to the formal preservation of the truth from the premises; appeal to consequences does not refer to arguments that address a premise's consequential desirability (good or bad, or right or wrong) instead of its truth value. Therefore, an argument based on appeal to consequences is valid in long-term decision making (which discusses possibilities that do not exist yet in the present) and abstract ethics, and in fact such arguments are the cornerstones of many moral theories, particularly related to consequentialism. Appeal to consequences also should not be confused with argumentum ad baculum, which is the bringing up of 'artificial' consequences (i.e. punishments) to argue that an action is wrong.
This form somewhat resembles modus tollens but is both different and fallacious, since "Q is undesirable" is not equivalent to "Q is false".
Example
"If the six men win, it will mean that the police are guilty of perjury, that they are guilty of violence and threats, that the confessions were invented and improperly admitted in evidence and the convictions were erroneous... This is such an appalling vista that every sensible person in the land would say that it cannot be right that these actions should go any further." Lord Denning in his judgment on the Birmingham Six.
In lawedit
In law, an argument from inconvenience or argumentum ab inconvenienti, is a valid type of appeal to consequences. Such an argument would seek to show that a proposed action would have unreasonably inconvenient consequences, as for example a law that would require a person wishing to lend money against a security to first ascertain the borrower's title to the property by inquiring in every single courthouse in the country.
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^"Logical Fallacy: Appeal to Consequences". fallacyfiles.org. from the original on 2022-02-13. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
April 11, 2024
appeal, consequences, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, novem. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Appeal to consequences news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2007 Learn how and when to remove this template message Appeal to consequences also known as argumentum ad consequentiam Latin for argument to the consequence is an argument that concludes a hypothesis typically a belief to be either true or false based on whether the premise leads to desirable or undesirable consequences 1 This is based on an appeal to emotion and is a type of informal fallacy since the desirability of a premise s consequence does not make the premise true Moreover in categorizing consequences as either desirable or undesirable such arguments inherently contain subjective points of view In logic appeal to consequences refers only to arguments that assert a conclusion s truth value true or false without regard to the formal preservation of the truth from the premises appeal to consequences does not refer to arguments that address a premise s consequential desirability good or bad or right or wrong instead of its truth value Therefore an argument based on appeal to consequences is valid in long term decision making which discusses possibilities that do not exist yet in the present and abstract ethics and in fact such arguments are the cornerstones of many moral theories particularly related to consequentialism Appeal to consequences also should not be confused with argumentum ad baculum which is the bringing up of artificial consequences i e punishments to argue that an action is wrong Contents 1 General form 1 1 Positive form 1 2 Negative form 2 In law 3 See also 4 NotesGeneral form editAn argument based on appeal to consequences generally has one of two forms 2 Positive form edit If P then Q will occur Q is desirable Therefore P is true It is closely related to wishful thinking in its construction Examples Real estate markets will continue to rise this year home owners enjoy the capital gains Humans will travel faster than light faster than light travel would be beneficial for space travel Negative form edit If P then Q will occur Q is undesirable Therefore P is false Appeal to force argumentum ad baculum is a special instance of this form This form somewhat resembles modus tollens but is both different and fallacious since Q is undesirable is not equivalent to Q is false Example If the six men win it will mean that the police are guilty of perjury that they are guilty of violence and threats that the confessions were invented and improperly admitted in evidence and the convictions were erroneous This is such an appalling vista that every sensible person in the land would say that it cannot be right that these actions should go any further Lord Denning in his judgment on the Birmingham Six In law editIn law an argument from inconvenience or argumentum ab inconvenienti is a valid type of appeal to consequences Such an argument would seek to show that a proposed action would have unreasonably inconvenient consequences as for example a law that would require a person wishing to lend money against a security to first ascertain the borrower s title to the property by inquiring in every single courthouse in the country See also editAffirming the consequent Appeal to fear Argumentum ad hominem circumstantial form Consequentialism Pascal s wager Utilitarianism Wishful thinkingNotes edit Fallacy Appeal to Consequences of a Belief www nizkor org Archived from the original on 2019 12 22 Retrieved 2016 10 29 Logical Fallacy Appeal to Consequences fallacyfiles org Archived from the original on 2022 02 13 Retrieved 2022 02 23 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Appeal to consequences amp oldid 1215211758, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
