Argumentum ad baculum
Encyclopedia
Argumentum ad baculum
(Latin for argument to the cudgel or appeal to the stick), also known as appeal to force, is an argument where force
, coercion
, or the threat of force, is given as a justification for a conclusion. It is a specific case of the negative form of an argument to the consequences
.
This form of argument is an informal fallacy
, because the attack Q may not necessarily reveal anything about the truth value of the premise
P. This fallacy
has been identified since the Middle Ages
by many philosophers. This is a special case of argumentum ad consequentiam
, or "appeal to consequences".
In both of these examples, the authority figure ended the argument with a threat of force, but this does not automatically mean they are correct. They did not win the argument because they did not refute the other person's contention.
Some catechists reduce the belief in God
to an argumentum ad baculum, in which disbelief is equated with damnation
and belief with salvation
. Here, the authority figure is not in fact threatening the exercise of his or her own authority, but that of a deity
. This is similar to an appeal to emotion
. Blaise Pascal
argued similarly in his Wager
.
This is called a non-fallacious ad baculum. The inference is valid because the existence of the punishment is not being used to draw conclusions about the nature of drunk driving itself, but about people for whom the punishment applies. It would become a fallacy if one proceeded from the first premise to argue, for example, that drunk driving is immoral or bad for society. Specifically, the above argument would become a fallacious Ad Baculum if the conclusion stated:
Baculum
The baculum is a bone found in the penis of most mammals. It is absent in humans, but present in other primates, such as the gorilla and chimpanzee.The bone aids in sexual intercourse.-Purpose:...
(Latin for argument to the cudgel or appeal to the stick), also known as appeal to force, is an argument where force
Force
In physics, a force is any influence that causes an object to undergo a change in speed, a change in direction, or a change in shape. In other words, a force is that which can cause an object with mass to change its velocity , i.e., to accelerate, or which can cause a flexible object to deform...
, coercion
Coercion
Coercion is the practice of forcing another party to behave in an involuntary manner by use of threats or intimidation or some other form of pressure or force. In law, coercion is codified as the duress crime. Such actions are used as leverage, to force the victim to act in the desired way...
, or the threat of force, is given as a justification for a conclusion. It is a specific case of the negative form of an argument to the consequences
Appeal to consequences
Appeal to consequences, also known as argumentum ad consequentiam , is an argument that concludes a premise to be either true or false based on whether the premise leads to desirable or undesirable consequences...
.
As a logical argument
A fallacious logical argument based on argumentum ad baculum generally has the following argument form:- If x accepts P as true, then Q.
- Q is a punishment on x.
- Therefore, P is not true.
This form of argument is an informal fallacy
Informal fallacy
An informal fallacy is an argument whose stated premises fail to support their proposed conclusion. The deviation in an informal fallacy often stems from a flaw in the path of reasoning that links the premises to the conclusion...
, because the attack Q may not necessarily reveal anything about the truth value of the premise
Premise
Premise can refer to:* Premise, a claim that is a reason for, or an objection against, some other claim as part of an argument...
P. This fallacy
Fallacy
In logic and rhetoric, a fallacy is usually an incorrect argumentation in reasoning resulting in a misconception or presumption. By accident or design, fallacies may exploit emotional triggers in the listener or interlocutor , or take advantage of social relationships between people...
has been identified since the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
by many philosophers. This is a special case of argumentum ad consequentiam
Appeal to consequences
Appeal to consequences, also known as argumentum ad consequentiam , is an argument that concludes a premise to be either true or false based on whether the premise leads to desirable or undesirable consequences...
, or "appeal to consequences".
Examples
- Employee: I do not think the company should invest its money into this project.
- Employer: Be quiet or you will be fired.
- Student: I do not think it is fair that the deadline for our essay is so soon.
- Teacher: Do not argue with me or I will send you to detention.
In both of these examples, the authority figure ended the argument with a threat of force, but this does not automatically mean they are correct. They did not win the argument because they did not refute the other person's contention.
Some catechists reduce the belief in God
Belief in God
Various theistic positions can involve belief in a God or "gods". They include:* Henotheism, worship of a single god despite recognition of other deities.* Monotheism, belief in a single deity....
to an argumentum ad baculum, in which disbelief is equated with damnation
Damnation
Damnation is the concept of everlasting divine punishment and/or disgrace, especially the punishment for sin as threatened by God . A damned being "in damnation" is said to be either in Hell, or living in a state wherein they are divorced from Heaven and/or in a state of disgrace from God's favor...
and belief with salvation
Salvation
Within religion salvation is the phenomenon of being saved from the undesirable condition of bondage or suffering experienced by the psyche or soul that has arisen as a result of unskillful or immoral actions generically referred to as sins. Salvation may also be called "deliverance" or...
. Here, the authority figure is not in fact threatening the exercise of his or her own authority, but that of a deity
Deity
A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
. This is similar to an appeal to emotion
Appeal to emotion
Appeal to emotion is a potential fallacy which uses the manipulation of the recipient's emotions, rather than valid logic, to win an argument. The appeal to emotion fallacy uses emotions as the basis of an argument's position without factual evidence that logically supports the major ideas endorsed...
. Blaise Pascal
Blaise Pascal
Blaise Pascal , was a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and Catholic philosopher. He was a child prodigy who was educated by his father, a tax collector in Rouen...
argued similarly in his Wager
Pascal's Wager
Pascal's Wager, also known as Pascal's Gambit, is a suggestion posed by the French philosopher, mathematician, and physicist Blaise Pascal that even if the existence of God could not be determined through reason, a rational person should wager as though God exists, because one living life...
.
The Non-fallacious Ad Baculum
An ad baculum argument is fallacious when the punishment is not logically related to the conclusion being drawn. Many ad baculum arguments are not fallacies. For example:- If you drive while drunk, you will be put in jail.
- You want to avoid going to jail.
- Therefore you should not drive while drunk.
This is called a non-fallacious ad baculum. The inference is valid because the existence of the punishment is not being used to draw conclusions about the nature of drunk driving itself, but about people for whom the punishment applies. It would become a fallacy if one proceeded from the first premise to argue, for example, that drunk driving is immoral or bad for society. Specifically, the above argument would become a fallacious Ad Baculum if the conclusion stated:
- Therefore you will not drive while drunk.
See also
- Logical fallacy
- Conformity
- Bullying
- Pascal's WagerPascal's WagerPascal's Wager, also known as Pascal's Gambit, is a suggestion posed by the French philosopher, mathematician, and physicist Blaise Pascal that even if the existence of God could not be determined through reason, a rational person should wager as though God exists, because one living life...
- Management by perkeleManagement by perkeleManagement by perkele is originally a Swedish expression for a Finnish leadership approach that, according to its proponents, takes required actions in a quick and swift way, instead of a prolonged pondering of all possible alternative approaches and points of view before actually getting anything...