What is a slippery slope fallacy in simple words?

A slippery slope fallacy claims that one small step will lead to a chain of events ending in disaster, without giving evidence that each step will really happen.

What is an example of a slippery slope?

“If we let students use calculators, they’ll stop learning math, then they’ll fail their exams, and soon no one will be able to do basic sums.” Each step is assumed, not proved.

Is a slippery slope argument always a fallacy?

No. If there is good evidence that each step is likely to lead to the next, the argument can be reasonable. It becomes a fallacy when the chain is presented as certain without support.

What are other names for the slippery slope fallacy?

It is also called the domino fallacy or the thin end of the wedge. The idiom “Give them an inch and they’ll take a mile” often expresses the same idea.

What are the types of slippery slope arguments?

Writers usually describe three types: causal (one event causes the next), precedential (one decision sets an example for others) and conceptual (there is no clear line between small and large changes).

How do you avoid a slippery slope in an essay?

Give evidence for each link in the chain and use careful language such as “could,” “may” and “there is a risk that” instead of “will definitely” or “inevitably.”

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barbecued

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Cooked over an outdoor grill

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Word length: 9
Starts with: B
Ends with: D
Contains: AR
Scrabble score: 16
CEFR level: A2

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