FALLACY: Appeal to fear

This is similar to the fallacy of Appeal to Emotion. An APPEAL TO FEAR is when a person tries to support his or her argument by scaring you, or by creating doubt and prejudice.

A Red Ryder BB gun is very dangerous.
You'll shoot your eye out.
Therefore, you should ask for another gift.

Mothers make these kinds of arguments all the time. “Don't climb on that, you'll fall and break your arm.” “Don't talk while you chew your food, you'll choke to death.” “Don't talk to strangers, you'll get kidnapped.”

These statements sometimes, unfortunately, turn out to be true. Children do fall and break their arms, people do choke on their food, and strangers are sometimes dangerous. It is important to listen to your mother (and father, grandparents, teacher, etc.)!

But, when we're talking about logical arguments, and determining truth, the APPEAL TO FEAR is a fallacy. Examine this argument:

If you don't believe in god, you will go to hell when you die.
Hell is full of suffering for all eternity.
Therefore, you should believe in god.

This sort of argument gives you scary premises, but do those premises actually support the conclusion? Whether you believe in god or not, this argument is a fallacy because scaring people does not prove or disprove the existence of a higher power.

Religions, governments, politicians, and big companies all use APPEAL TO FEAR:

“Don't vote for Barack Hussein Obama, he is friends with terrorists.”

“Allowing gay people to marry will destroy American families.”

“If we don't give taxpayer money to the banks, our whole economy will collapse.”

“Chew this gum or else you will have bad breath and no one will ever kiss you.”

Pay attention when you watch TV commercials, listen to politicians, or read newspapers and magazines, and keep a list of the APPEALS TO FEAR.