As A Logical Argument
A fallacious argument based on argumentum ad baculum generally proceeds as follows:
- If x accepts P as true, then Q.
- Q is a punishment on x.
- Therefore, P is not true.
This form of argument is an informal fallacy, because the attack Q may not necessarily reveal anything about the truth value of the premise P. This fallacy has been identified since the Middle Ages by many philosophers. This is a special case of argumentum ad consequentiam, or "appeal to consequences".
Read more about this topic: Argumentum Ad Baculum
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