Appeal to Consequences

The Fallacy

Arguing that a hypothesis must be true or false because the consequences of it being so would be desirable or undesirable.

Why it's wrong

This fallacy confuses the truth of a claim with the consequences of believing it. Whether something is true is independent of whether we like the outcome. Reality doesn't care about our preferences or fears.

Example

The CEO refused to believe the climate data showing rising sea levels because, if it were true, the company's beachfront property value would plummet.

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