Question

Diane does not think that gay people should get married. She argues that, if gay couples are allowed to get legally married, the next step will be to legalize polygamy and child marriage. Clearly, if we are going to save American society, we must not legalize gay marriages. Which logical fallacy does Diane's argument employ?

• A. Red Herring
• B. Post Hoc
• C. Bandwagon
• D. Confusing cause and effect
• E. Slippery Slope

Hint:

In slippery slope arguments, be wary of claims that one event will inevitably lead to extreme or unreasonable consequences without sufficient evidence.

Answer 1

Answer: (E)

Step 1: Understanding the fallacy.
The argument relies on the claim that allowing one event (gay marriage) will lead to a series of extreme and undesirable events (legalizing polygamy and child marriage), without providing sufficient evidence for this progression. This is a classic slippery slope fallacy.

Step 2: Analyzing the options.
- (A) Red Herring: This fallacy diverts attention from the real issue by focusing on irrelevant matters. This is not the case here.
- (B) Post Hoc: This fallacy assumes that because one event follows another, the first caused the second. This does not apply to this argument.
- (C) Bandwagon: This fallacy suggests that something is true because many people believe it. This is not applicable to this argument.
- (D) Confusing cause and effect: This fallacy occurs when a correlation is mistaken for causation. This is not the flaw in Diane's argument.
- (E) Slippery Slope: This is the correct fallacy because Diane argues that one event will inevitably lead to a chain of extreme events, which is a typical slippery slope argument.

Step 3: Conclusion.
Option (E) is correct because the argument claims an inevitable chain of events, which is characteristic of a slippery slope fallacy.