Is the Slippery Slope fallacy really a fallacy? (marriage, life)
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I often see mentions of the slippery slope fallacy, and often it is label unambiguously as a fallacy. But is a slippery slope argument always a logical fallacy? I don't think so - I think it is sometimes a fallacy and sometimes not.
Take the slippery slope argument:
If A happens, then B will happen, then C will happen. We really don't want C to happen, so we must not do A.
This is a fallacy if there is no reason to support that A will lead to B, or B will lead to C. Equally, it is not a fallacy if there is such evidence.
In terms of human relationships, I see it as anticipation but that doesn't necessarily mean it will come true. For example, if I were to say something political at the dinner table, there are a variety of reactions I can get. Some people can contribute to the discussion calmly while others will become angry. To be told beforehand that I shouldn't say anything political because then J will become angry and then want to leave, that is a prediction that may have a high chance of happening but it is not guaranteed.
In terms of human relationships, I see it as anticipation but that doesn't necessarily mean it will come true. For example, if I were to say something political at the dinner table, there are a variety of reactions I can get. Some people can contribute to the discussion calmly while others will become angry. To be told beforehand that I shouldn't say anything political because then J will become angry and then want to leave, that is a prediction that may have a high chance of happening but it is not guaranteed.
Yeah, and you make a good point about chance. Often what is referred as a slippery slope fallacy is an increase chance than one event will then lead to another - neither a 100% guarantee, nor a complete fallacy.
So in you example it would be a slippery slope (but without a 100% certainty that you will slip down the slope, to use the metaphor.)
It's just something I thought about, because for all my life I have seen the slippery slope referred to as a fallacy, When i think it is only sometimes a fallacy.
When bad things happen for a long time, people become inured and accept it as ordinary and usual. Then then next bad thing is only incrementally worse, so people begin to accept that.
It depends. At its core, it depends on the validity or reality of the slope in the first place, and said slope doesn't have a non-arbitrary stopping point anywhere on its descent.
IE, same sex marriage; there were ridiculous "where will it stop?" arguments. Well, with two consenting adults. That's where it stops. You can't marry a farm animal or a vacuum cleaner for the very simple reason that one party isn't a consenting adult.
Or a recent one from the news, the Ohio mayor that said "Ice fishing leads to prostitution." "If we allow ice fishing, what if people want to have ice shanties? And if we allow ice shanties, that leads to prostitution." Absurdity aside, it ignores that there aer stops along the way, such as prohibiting ice shanties, or prohibiting ice shanties left on the lake for more than 12 hours, etc...
It depends. At its core, it depends on the validity or reality of the slope in the first place, and said slope doesn't have a non-arbitrary stopping point anywhere on its descent.
IE, same sex marriage; there were ridiculous "where will it stop?" arguments. Well, with two consenting adults. That's where it stops. You can't marry a farm animal or a vacuum cleaner for the very simple reason that one party isn't a consenting adult.
Or a recent one from the news, the Ohio mayor that said "Ice fishing leads to prostitution." "If we allow ice fishing, what if people want to have ice shanties? And if we allow ice shanties, that leads to prostitution." Absurdity aside, it ignores that there aer stops along the way, such as prohibiting ice shanties, or prohibiting ice shanties left on the lake for more than 12 hours, etc...
I agree. And further I think the onus is on the person suggesting a slippery slope to demonstrate that the slope is actually slippery. If that Ohio mayor wanted me to accept their argument, they should demonstrate that each link between ice fishing and prostitution holds - it is on them to demonstrate that (of course I doubt they could as I don't think the intermediate links between the two make sense).
Well, we did start with Jacksons and Beauregards and it didn’t take long at all before we got to Jeffersons and Washingtons…
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