Argumentum ad baculum Totally Explained

Everything about Argumentum Ad Baculum totally explained

Argumentum ad baculum (Latin: 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.

As a logical argument

A fallacious logical argument based on argumentum ad baculum generally has the following argument form: ť If x doesn't accept P as true, then Q.

   Q is a punishment on x. ť Therefore, P is true.

For example: ť If you don't believe in Jesus Christ, you'll go to hell.

   Therefore, Jesus Christ is God.
   In other words, This is right because if you don't believe it, you'll be harmed. 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".

Examples

"I don't remember owing you any money. If I don't pay this supposed debt, you'll beat me up and hurt my family. Therefore I do owe you some money."
"God exists, because if you don't believe in Him you'll go to Hell."
"Our political views are right and you should agree with them, because if you don't we'll put you in a Gulag."

Further Information

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