Question

consider the following fallacy. explain why the fallacy applies to the example and create your own argument that displays the same fallacy. the slippery slope fallacy has the following form. premise: x has occurred and is related to y. conclusion: y will inevitably occur. example: america has sent troops to three countries recently. before you know it, we will have troops everywhere. b. america will inevitably send troops to other countries because many countries send troops to other countries. c. let y be america sending troops to three countries recently. this is inevitable because soon there will be troops everywhere. d. let x be america having troops everywhere. let y be america sending troops to three countries recently. this is inevitable because america has troops everywhere. create an argument that displays the same fallacy. choose the correct answer below. a. the national debt has been increasing by $500 billion per year, on average. if this trend continues, the national debt will increase by $2 trillion over the next four years. b. it is impossible to go faster than the speed of light, so going faster than the speed of light breaks the laws of physics. c. the average weight of americans is increasing. before long, the average american will be immobile. d. your neighbors pet goose weighs 5 kilograms, so all geese must weigh 5 kilograms.

Explanation:

The slippery - slope fallacy assumes that a relatively small first step (X) will lead to a large, often extreme, consequence (Y) without proper evidence. In the example, sending troops to three countries (X) is assumed to lead to having troops everywhere (Y) without showing a necessary causal link.
For the creation of an argument:

• Option A is a simple prediction based on a trend (linear extrapolation), not a slippery - slope.
• Option B is a statement of fact based on scientific laws, not a fallacy.
• Option C: The increase in average weight (X) is assumed to lead to immobility (Y) without proper evidence of a necessary causal chain, which is a slippery - slope fallacy.
• Option D is a hasty generalization fallacy, not a slippery - slope.

Answer:

The example shows the slippery - slope fallacy because there is no evidence that sending troops to three countries will necessarily lead to having troops everywhere. The correct argument that displays the same fallacy is C.