Argumentum ad baculum: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Thorvald Stauning at Desk.jpg|thumb|In 1940, [[Denmark in World War II|Denmark]] led by prime minister [[Thorvald Stauning]] | [[File:Thorvald Stauning at Desk.jpg|thumb|In 1940, [[Denmark in World War II|Denmark]] led by prime minister [[Thorvald Stauning]] surrendered to [[Nazi Germany]] after six hours of fighting, believing further resistance would only result in the futile loss of more Danish lives<ref name="dethlef4">Henrik Dethlefsen, "Denmark and the German Occupation: Cooperation, Negotiation, or Collaboration," ''Scandinavian Journal of History''. 15:3 (1990), pp. 193, 201–202.</ref> ]] | ||
'''''Argumentum ad baculum''''' ([[Latin]] for "argument to the [[ | '''''Argumentum ad baculum''''' ([[Latin]] for "argument to the [[Club (weapon)|cudgel]]" or "'''appeal to the stick'''") is a type of argument made when one attempts to '''appeal to force'''<ref>{{cite web |last=Curtis |first=Gary N. |year=2018 |title=Logical Fallacy: Appeal to Force |url=http://www.fallacyfiles.org/adbacula.html |website=The Fallacy Files |access-date=2021-06-24}}</ref> to bring about the acceptance of a conclusion.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://global.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780199331864/stu/supplement/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=global.oup.com |title=Supplement: A Summary of the Fallacies}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Argumentum ad Baculum |url=http://philosophy.lander.edu/logic/force.html |website=philosophy.lander.edu |publisher=[[Lander University]] |access-date=2022-07-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Woods |first=John |author-link=John Woods (logician) |date=November 1998 |title=Argumentum ad baculum |url=http://logic.sysu.edu.cn/Soft/UploadSoft/200712/20071221103721774.pdf |journal=Argumentation |volume=12 |issue=4 |pages=493–504 |doi=10.1023/A:1007779930624 |s2cid=143386357 |access-date=2023-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124025000/http://logic.sysu.edu.cn/Soft/UploadSoft/200712/20071221103721774.pdf |archive-date=2016-11-24 |url-status=dead}}</ref> One participates in ''argumentum ad baculum'' when one emphasizes the negative consequences of holding the contrary position, regardless of the contrary position's [[truth value]]—particularly when the argument-maker himself causes (or threatens to cause) those negative consequences.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=crAPEAAAQBAJ&dq=argumentum%20ad%20baculum&pg=PA27 |title=Informal Logical Fallacies: A Brief Guide |isbn=978-0-7618-7254-2 |last1=Van Vleet |first1=Jacob E. |date=28 January 2021 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield }}</ref> It is a special case of the [[appeal to consequences]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5c_5AQAAQBAJ&dq=baculum%20appeal%20to%20consequences.&pg=PA202 |title=Argumentation Schemes for Presumptive Reasoning |isbn=978-1-136-68706-8 |last1=Walton |first1=Douglas |date=5 November 2013 |publisher=Routledge }}</ref> Argumentation scholar [[Douglas N. Walton|Douglas Walton]] states that many texts on the matter "take it for granted that ad baculum arguments are inherently fallacious" and continued that "some of the textbooks, especially some of the more interesting accounts, suggest that this type of argument may not always be fallacious, and cite instances where appealing to force or threat or fear could be reasonable in a given context. The issue raised by these provocative accounts is how one should distinguish between the fallacious and the nonfallacious use of the argumentum ad baculum".<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QZVHBAAAQBAJ&dq=argumentum%20ad%20baculum&pg=PT12 |title=Scare Tactics: Arguments that Appeal to Fear and Threats |isbn=978-94-017-2940-6 |last1=Walton |first1=Douglas |date=29 June 2013 |publisher=Springer }}</ref> | ||
==Examples== | ==Examples== | ||
Latest revision as of 15:57, 19 November 2025
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Argumentum ad baculum (Latin for "argument to the cudgel" or "appeal to the stick") is a type of argument made when one attempts to appeal to force[2] to bring about the acceptance of a conclusion.[3][4][5] One participates in argumentum ad baculum when one emphasizes the negative consequences of holding the contrary position, regardless of the contrary position's truth value—particularly when the argument-maker himself causes (or threatens to cause) those negative consequences.[6] It is a special case of the appeal to consequences.[7] Argumentation scholar Douglas Walton states that many texts on the matter "take it for granted that ad baculum arguments are inherently fallacious" and continued that "some of the textbooks, especially some of the more interesting accounts, suggest that this type of argument may not always be fallacious, and cite instances where appealing to force or threat or fear could be reasonable in a given context. The issue raised by these provocative accounts is how one should distinguish between the fallacious and the nonfallacious use of the argumentum ad baculum".[8]
Examples
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy gives this example of argumentum ad baculum:
- If you don't join our demonstration against the expansion of the park, we will evict you from your apartment;
- So, you should join our demonstration against the expansion of the park.[9]
The phrase has also been used to describe the 1856 caning of Charles Sumner, an abolitionist Senator, by one of his pro-slavery opponents, Preston Brooks, on the floor of the United States Senate.[10]
See also
- Argument from authority
- Formal fallacy
- In terrorem
- Legal threat
- Might makes right
- Proof by intimidation
References
Template:Fallacies Template:Authority control
- ↑ Henrik Dethlefsen, "Denmark and the German Occupation: Cooperation, Negotiation, or Collaboration," Scandinavian Journal of History. 15:3 (1990), pp. 193, 201–202.
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- ↑ Template:Cite magazine