All-Seeing AI

fallacy

Appeal to consequences

Also called: Argumentum ad consequentiam

An appeal to consequences argues that a belief is true or false based on whether its consequences would be good or bad.

How it works

Consequences matter for decisions, but they do not change facts. A claim can be true and unwelcome, or false and comforting.

Examples

"The economy can't be heading for a recession, because that would be terrible for everyone."
How bad a recession would be says nothing about whether one is coming.
"If this theory were true, life would be meaningless, so it must be false."
The theory's truth depends on evidence, not on how we feel about its implications.

How to spot it

  • "That can't be true, because then...".
  • Desirability is used as evidence.
  • Questions of fact are mixed with questions of what to do.

How to respond

  • Separate "is it true?" from "what should we do if it is?".
  • Ask for evidence on the factual question.
  • Acknowledge the worry and keep it for the decision stage.

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