Logic – For the love of it

Taxonomy – Where am I?

Appeal To Pity (ad misericordiam)

classification : informal – appeals to motive in place of support

An argument based on pity without foundation or logical merit.

Foundations

Pity does not serve as evidence for a claim or otherwise support a logical conclusion.

Examples

Find the defendant not guilty of embezzlement. He’s in a wheelchair.

I hope you like my proposal. It took me six years to write and I would die if it was rejected.

Other Names

Appeal to the pitying heart

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