Logical Fallacy of Appeal to Desperation

The logical fallacy of appeal to desperation occurs when a person uses the fact, or supposed fact, that something must be done as a premise, and the proposed conclusion/solution is the something that must be done.

Examples of Logical Fallacy of Appeal to Desperation

“Look, the company is going out of business. We need to go to Las Vegas with what little cash we still have and win big. If we win, we can save the company and pay the workers.”

Yikes! They never did get paid.

“There are some people who can’t afford insurance and who go to hospitals to get treatment, forcing the hospitals to treat them for free. Something must be done. Sign this bill into law. We have to sign it to see what it says.”

How silly! This is the appeal to desperation fallacy.

“We had to get here somehow. Evolution is the only possible explanation. Therefore, evolution happened.”

We have to have an explanation. We reject God and His explanation. Therefore, we believe what doesn't make any sense, because we have to have some kind of explanation. Now let's teach this story to all the kids and tell them it's science.