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    Slippery slope arguments cannot be automatically dismisse... — Carmelics
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    Home/Skepticism
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    Slippery slope arguments cannot be automatically dismissed as fallacious

    SkepticismTruth & Knowledge
    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    1 reason for
    2 reasons against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.If it is true that some action will precipitate a chain of consequences leading down an alleged slippery slope, this is a good reason to question that action
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    • 2.An argument that accurately identifies such a causal chain has genuine evidential force
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    Reasons Against

    2 perspectives
    Reason against 1 of 2
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    • 1.Slippery slope arguments structurally presuppose causal inevitability between steps, but empirical contingency means no such necessity can be established a priori.
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    • 2.Without a demonstrated mechanism linking each step, the argument form licenses any prohibition by speculative extrapolation, rendering it epistemically vacuous.
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    Reason against 2 of 2
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    • 1.Walton's own pragma-dialectical framework shows slippery slope arguments are only non-fallacious when the causal chain is independently verifiable, not merely plausible.
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    • 2.In the absence of such verification, accepting the argument conflates rhetorical persuasiveness with logical validity, a distinction Hamblin's 'Fallacies' (1970) treats as foundational.
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    Topics

    SkepticismTruth & Knowledge

    Connections

    2 topics

    Causation2 linkedConsequentialism1 linked

    Related

    An argument that accurately identifies such a causal chain has genuine evidentia...If it is true that some action will precipitate a chain of consequences leading ...In the absence of such verification, accepting the argument conflates rhetorical...Slippery slope arguments structurally presuppose causal inevitability between st...
    +2 moreShow less
    Walton's own pragma-dialectical framework shows slippery slope arguments are onl...Without a demonstrated mechanism linking each step, the argument form licenses a...

    Similar

    Slippery slope arguments can be fallacious due to vague terms rather t...87%Polysemy is the most common mechanism by which fallacious arguments ap...75%No argument can be convicted of being a fallacy on logical grounds.74%Arguing from an opponent's own principles or concessions is not a fall...74%

    Source

    AI-extracted1/3 agreementValid
    SEP: logic-informal
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    EXAMPLE 14: The argument that “the attempt to use military force to put an end to terrorism is wrong because it will take us down a slippery slope that will end in improper interference in the affairs of independent states” cannot be dismissed because it is an instance of slippery slope reasoning. If it is true that some action will precipitate a chain of consequences that lead down an alleged slippery slope, this is a good reason to question it.
    Extraction notes

    Validity: Extracted via Max plan + API grounding/validity checks

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    3 (1 for, 2 against)
    Edits
    1 edit