Argumentum ad baculum

Argumentum ad baculum (Latin for "argument to the cudgel" or "appeal to the stick") is the fallacy committed when one makes an appeal to force[1] to bring about the acceptance of a conclusion.[2][3][4] 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. It is a special case of the appeal to consequences.

  1. ^ Curtis, Gary N. (2018). "Logical Fallacy: Appeal to Force". The Fallacy Files. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  2. ^ https://global.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780199331864/stu/supplement/
  3. ^ "Argumentum ad Baculum". philosophy.lander.edu. Lander University. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  4. ^ Woods, John (November 1998). "Argumentum ad baculum" (PDF). Argumentation. 12 (4): 493–504. doi:10.1023/A:1007779930624. S2CID 143386357. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2023.