What is a slippery slope example?
One of the most common real-life slippery slope examples is when you’re tempted by an unhealthy treat. The typical thought process goes something like this: If I eat this donut today, I’ll probably eat another donut tomorrow. If I eat one donut tomorrow, I might eat several donuts the next day.
What is slippery slope theory?
A slippery slope argument (SSA), in logic, critical thinking, political rhetoric, and caselaw, is an argument in which a party asserts that a relatively small first step leads to a chain of related events culminating in some significant (usually negative) effect.
What is example of slippery?
Examples of slippery in a Sentence The trails were muddy and slippery. Fish are slippery to hold. The sign cautions: “Slippery when wet.”
Why is slippery slope used?
A slippery slope is an argument that suggests that a certain initial action could lead to a chain of events with a relatively extreme result, or that if we treat one case a certain way then we will have to treat more extreme cases the same way too.
What is the slippery slope argument in ethics?
The slippery slope argument views decisions not on their own, but as the potential beginning of a trend. In general form, this argument says that if we allow something relatively harmless today, we may start a trend that results in something currently unthinkable becoming accepted.
Why is slippery slope effective?
They are slippery slope arguments simply because they argue on the basis of a claim that doing one thing will lead to a slippery slide to something else undesirable. But again, if there is good reason to think the causal connection between X and Y will hold, then the slippery slope argument may well be very good.
Why is the slippery slope fallacy used?
Why is the Slippery Slope Argument perceived as fallacious? The Slippery Slope Argument is an argument that concludes that if an action is taken, other negative consequences will follow. For example, “If event X were to occur, then event Y would (eventually) follow; thus, we cannot allow event X to happen.”
Why is slippery slope a weak argument?
However, slippery slope arguments are often very weak. They are weak because the chain of causation asserted to hold between X and Y is usually opaque to us. We just cannot assess in many cases whether X will in fact lead to Y.
How does a slippery slope work?
In a slippery slope argument, a course of action is rejected because, with little or no evidence, one insists that it will lead to a chain reaction resulting in an undesirable end or ends. The slippery slope involves an acceptance of a succession of events without direct evidence that this course of events will happen.
Is slippery slope argument good?
Why is slippery slope important?
Rhetorical features of slippery slopes Note that a slippery slope itself can lead either to a positive outcome or a negative one. When it leads to a positive outcome, a slippery slope can, for example, encourage people to undertake a certain course of action, with the promise of a major positive event in the end.