Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is the Slippery Slope Fallacy?Impact and Consequences of the Slippery Slope FallacyHow to Identify and Avoid the Slippery Slope FallacyExamplesCommon Misconceptions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is the Slippery Slope Fallacy?

Impact and Consequences of the Slippery Slope Fallacy

How to Identify and Avoid the Slippery Slope Fallacy

Examples

Common Misconceptions

Close

Ever hear of someone warning you of doing something because it could lead to a “slippery slope”? Enter: the slippery slope fallacy—which argues that one relatively harmless event will lead to a chain reaction that results in an extreme (often undesirable) outcome.

The outcome is usually described as inevitable unless steps are taken to prevent it, even though there are usually only two events discussed: the original event and the outcome. There are many examples of the slippery slope argument in everything from politics to law to business to social examples.

Let’s take a look at the impact and consequences of the slippery slope fallacy, learn how to avoid thefallacy, and explore some examples of how it plays out.

Understanding the Slippery Slope Fallacy

The slippery slope argument asserts that an initial action will eventually lead to an extreme result. However, slippery slope arguments aren’t always fallacious.Patrick J. Hurley, emeritus professor of philosophy at the University of San Diego and writer of the books “Religion, Power, & Illusion: A Genealogy of Religious Belief” and “A Concise Introduction to Logic,” explains that if the person arguing for the slippery slope sees logical connections that exist, these arguments can be valid.

For example, Hurley explains, “a [recovering] alcoholic [could] argue to himself: ‘I must never take another drink. Not even a small one. If I take that first drink, then I’ll want another. The first few drinks may be tiny ones, but soon they will become jumbos. Before long, I’ll be throwing them down, one after another, and then I’ll be hooked, just as I was before I quit. In the end, alcohol may end up killing me.’ This is probably a good argument. The causal connections that link one drink with another probably really exist [in this case]. For the slippery slope fallacy to occur, at least one of the causal connections must be weak or nonexistent.”

There are three kinds of slippery slopes:

Causal Slopes

Causal slopes suggest that a relatively minor action now will result in a sequence of events that result in a major action later. For instance, one could argue that if we give one student extra time on the test, we might give everyone perfect scores later, regardless of their effort. Causal slippery slopes require at least two events, the first event and the last one, although any number of events can occur in between either because they are implied or because they’re explicitly brought up. This kind of slippery slope is often fallacious because it ignores or understates the uncertainty ingrained in getting from the minor starting event to the major end event.

Precedential Slopes

Conceptual Slopes

These revolve around the idea that if it’s possible to transition from point A to point B in a series of small, nearly indistinguishable steps, then there’s no meaningful difference between the two. For instance, if we allow euthanasia for people on the verge of death, we might as well allow it for everyone. This kind of slippery slope is often fallacious because it ignores our ability to distinguish between two things even if they are relatively similar.

What Do the Different Slippery Slopes Have in Common?Regardless of what kind of slippery slope you encounter, they all share several characteristics:An acceptable starting pointA dangerous or unacceptable endpointA transition between the start point and end point, typically without the ability to stop somewhere in the middle

What Do the Different Slippery Slopes Have in Common?

Regardless of what kind of slippery slope you encounter, they all share several characteristics:An acceptable starting pointA dangerous or unacceptable endpointA transition between the start point and end point, typically without the ability to stop somewhere in the middle

Regardless of what kind of slippery slope you encounter, they all share several characteristics:

Furthermore, as Etienne points out, “in many instances, people will actually use the phrase ‘slippery slope’ when using this fallacy.” If someone uses the phrase “it’s a slippery slope,” be sure to listen carefully to their argument and challenge it if need be.

How to Avoid the Fallacy in Your Own Arguments

Much like in other people’s arguments, you can look for instances of the slippery slope fallacy in your own arguments, too. Take the following steps to avoid the fallacy:

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Examples of Slippery Slope Fallacy in Different Contexts

There are many examples of the slippery slope fallacy. Here are a few:

Common Misconceptions about the Slippery Slope Fallacy

Acommon misconceptionabout the slippery slope fallacy is that it’s not a fallacy at all. As Etienne says, “I have heard people use ‘it’s a slippery slope’ as a rationale for their position without realizing that they are not providing any evidence.” The slippery slope fallacy is a fallacy, but slippery slope arguments can be reasonable too, as Hurley observes. You have to be able to look at the argument and figure out if the person offering it is providing support and examples for it.

For example, at a 2019 press conference, Donald Trump said, “A lot of the people that put me where I am are strong believers in the Second Amendment, and I am, also. And we have to be very careful about that. You know, they call it the ‘slippery slope,’ and all of a sudden, everything gets taken away. We’re not going to let that happen.”

Whatever you think of Donald Trump, this argument leaves something to be desired. It lacks any evidence or supporting statements to prove itself.

Takeaway

The slippery slope fallacy suggests that a small starting point will lead to a larger, undesirable end point. Though the slippery slope argument isn’t always a fallacy, if the person arguing it does not provide evidence to justify the slippery slope, if they overstate their conclusions, and if they say “it’s a slippery slope” without providing support, their argument is likely fallacious.

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Govier T.What’s wrong with slippery slope arguments?Can J of Philosophy. 1982;12(2):303-316. doi:10.1080/00455091.1982.10715799Walton D.The Basic Slippery Slope Argument.Informal Logic. 2015;35(3):273-311.Department of Philosophy.Slippery Slope. Texas State University.Thompson B.Slippery Slope. Palomar College.

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Govier T.What’s wrong with slippery slope arguments?Can J of Philosophy. 1982;12(2):303-316. doi:10.1080/00455091.1982.10715799Walton D.The Basic Slippery Slope Argument.Informal Logic. 2015;35(3):273-311.Department of Philosophy.Slippery Slope. Texas State University.Thompson B.Slippery Slope. Palomar College.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Govier T.What’s wrong with slippery slope arguments?Can J of Philosophy. 1982;12(2):303-316. doi:10.1080/00455091.1982.10715799Walton D.The Basic Slippery Slope Argument.Informal Logic. 2015;35(3):273-311.Department of Philosophy.Slippery Slope. Texas State University.Thompson B.Slippery Slope. Palomar College.

Govier T.What’s wrong with slippery slope arguments?Can J of Philosophy. 1982;12(2):303-316. doi:10.1080/00455091.1982.10715799

Walton D.The Basic Slippery Slope Argument.Informal Logic. 2015;35(3):273-311.

Department of Philosophy.Slippery Slope. Texas State University.

Thompson B.Slippery Slope. Palomar College.

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