Logical Fallacy of Appeal to Force / Argumentum Ad Baculum / Argument to the Cudgel / Appeal to the Stick / Argument by Vehemence

The logical fallacy of appeal to force occurs when someone uses force, coercion, or the threat of these to try to force someone to accept a certain statement as true rather than presenting true premises to support a true conclusion.

Examples of the Logical Fallacy of Appeal to Force / Argumentum Ad Baculum / Argument to the Cudgel / Appeal to the Stick / Argument by Vehemence

Sandy: ”If you don’t believe in evolution , then you will not get tenure and you will be out on the street.”

This is a very real threat, and it works. People who accept this threat seem to be able to rationalize their new belief system that was accepted just for the money. However, fear of not making the big bucks is not proof of evolution. Here is another way this may be said:

Rocky: ”You’re a Christian. Why do you include the story of evolution in business classes that we are required to take for our work.”

Sandy: ”This is the University. To work here, you must fit in.”

The implied message is, If you make any waves about the evolution indoctrination in classes unrelated to evolution, you won’t have a job. This is the fallacy of appeal to fear because it doesn’t even attempt to address the question.

Billy: ”Why do I have to go to Church?”

Parent: ”If you ever ask such a question again, I’ll make you read your Bible an hour every day.”

Rather than giving Billy a real answer to his question, this parent talks about punishment and cuts off all discussion. This was a great time to have an open conversation, but the parent blew it. Billy needs to know the answer. It is the parent's responsibility to teach this to the child. When a question is asked, this is usually the best time teach. Perhaps the parent doesn't really know the answer. In addition, reading the Bible was put in the light of a punishment, but God speaks through the Bible so reading the Bible is an opportunity. A parent who would say such a thing may frame all Christian fellowship and seeking Christ in negative terms in a way that could eventually destroy a child’s life by turning the child away from God. The child is probably bored with the Bible because neither the parent nor the church has continually taught the child how to listen for God's Voice while reading Scripture. So many just depend on a rationalized faith and don't acknowledge God as He leads and instructs.