Argumentum ad baculum
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| − | + | '''Argumentum ad baculum''' ("argument from force") is the [[fallacy]] committed when one appeals to force or the threat of force to bring about the acceptance of a claim. | |
| − | + | This is an [[emotional]] argument, not a [[logical]] one. The person making the threat is making no argument for the truth of their claim. This fallacy is related to the [[argument from adverse consequences]] (the adverse consequence in question being punishment). | |
| − | + | Since this technique is an attempt to intimidate or frighten the target of the argument, it is a variety of the [[appeal to emotion]]. | |
| − | + | ||
| − | Since this technique is an attempt to intimidate or frighten the target, it is a variety of the [[appeal to emotion]]. | + | |
==Examples== | ==Examples== | ||
* "Give me all your money or I'll kill you." | * "Give me all your money or I'll kill you." | ||
* "If you don't believe in [[God]], you'll go to [[hell]] when you die." | * "If you don't believe in [[God]], you'll go to [[hell]] when you die." | ||
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| + | {{argument-stub}} | ||
[[Category:Logical fallacies]] | [[Category:Logical fallacies]] | ||
Revision as of 19:56, 25 August 2007
Argumentum ad baculum ("argument from force") is the fallacy committed when one appeals to force or the threat of force to bring about the acceptance of a claim.
This is an emotional argument, not a logical one. The person making the threat is making no argument for the truth of their claim. This fallacy is related to the argument from adverse consequences (the adverse consequence in question being punishment).
Since this technique is an attempt to intimidate or frighten the target of the argument, it is a variety of the appeal to emotion.
