Slippery Slope Fallacy
Spot the Fallacy Team
Team Content
A slippery slope claims a small step will inevitably lead to extreme outcomes without evidence.
A slippery slope claims a small step will inevitably lead to extreme outcomes without evidence.
Why it is a fallacy
A claim needs evidence that connects the reasons to the conclusion. This fallacy skips that connection or replaces it with a shortcut.
Examples
- If we allow one late assignment, students will never meet deadlines again.
- If we regulate this product, freedom will vanish.
- If we allow remote work, nobody will work and the company will fail.
How to respond
- Ask for the mechanism that links each step.
- Request evidence for the probability of the chain.
- Consider whether safeguards can prevent escalation.
Related fallacies
FAQ
Is slippery slope always wrong?
No. It is fallacious when the chain is asserted without evidence.
How do I evaluate a slippery slope claim?
Ask for evidence and probability at each step.
References
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fallacies)
- Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Logic and Critical Thinking)
- Nizkor Project (Fallacies)