Logic – For the love of it

Taxonomy – Where am I?

Appeal To Force (argumentum ad baculum)

classification : informal – appeals to motive in place of support

Arguing that unpleasant consequences will follow if someone fails to agree with an argument.

Foundations

An argument where force, coercion, or the threat of force, is given as a justification for a conclusion. You are never given any reason for believing – instead you are given a reason to comply. It is a specific case of the negative form of an argument to the consequences.

Examples

I support the war: if I did not, I would be ostracized from the community.

You had better agree that the new company policy is the best if you expect to keep your job.

Other Names

Sledgehammer Fallacy

Argument through intimidation

Appeal to the stick

One-Sidedness

scare tactics

strong-arm methods