ThinkCritical.eu · Manipulation atlas
Flawed argumentsSlippery slope
Claiming without evidence that one step will set off a chain of events ending in disaster.
One small step is said to start a chain of events that will inevitably end in disaster. Each link in the chain sounds plausible, but nobody backs it up.
“If we let children use their phones at break today, tomorrow they'll be using them in lessons, and in a year nobody will be learning anything.”
How to spot it
- “If we allow this, then…” followed by an ever-worsening scenario.
- No evidence that one step really leads to the next.
- The end of the chain is wildly dramatic.
How to check and what to do
- For each step, ask: why would the next one follow? What is the evidence?
- Look at what happened elsewhere, where a similar decision has already been made.
- Suggest a safeguard, such as a trial period or clear rules.
Tip: Not every warning about consequences is a fallacy. What counts is the evidence for each step.
Full explanation and exercises:
thinkcritical.eu/en/manipulation-atlas/slippery-slope