Appeal to consequences:
| Definition | Example |
| When it is assumed that the positive/negative consequences of a claim, to some degree, reflect the truth/falsehood of that claim. | If a virus erased my hard-drive, I’d loose all my work documents. So it can’t possibly happen. |
| Notes | |
| This is usually a fallacy that plays on vested interests. | |
Case Study One
It has been frequently argued that there can’t possibly be a god since it would mean he has allowed evil and suffering in the world. The mere negative consequences do not deny the possibility of a god. You must also explain why a god would necessarily not permit evil and suffering in the world.
Case Study Two
A common argument heard is that, because Hitler based his genocide on evolution, evolution must be wrong.
Case Study Three
A very common argument for an eternal soul is “If we do not have a soul, then we would be without an objective purpose or hope of an afterlife.” The argument usually ends here with the implication that such a conclusion is unthinkable and unacceptable, and is therefore false. An honest thinker dismisses no conclusion due to the emotional discomfort that accompanies it.
Keep in mind that a fallacious argument does not entail an erroneous position.
