Logical Fallacies in Politics: Appeal to Pity

As the rhetoric of political campaigns builds, it is interesting to look at the logic involved in the arguments presented. While the majority of candidates are probably sincere in their belief that they are the best person for the job, fallacious arguments abound. On the other hand, with intelligent candidates, speech writers, and careful consideration of most arguments they present, it is unlikely that the candidates use fallacies unintentionally. Instead, the two most likely reasons are that (1) the candidate believes the argument will be effective, whether fallacious or not; and/or (2) the candidate believes a particular demographic will find the fallacy appealing in itself.

Appeal to Pity Explained

The appeal to pity is a fallacy that fits both reasons well. It uses pity, whether for the speaker or for some other group, in the place of a sound premise. For example, consider the following:

Mommy, I should not have to ride the bus to school anymore, because it makes me sad when you don't take me to school.

The argument certainly is appealing; parents do not want anyone to make fun of their children. On the other hand, the child's sadness or happiness has little to do with why the child is riding the bus, so the appeal does not lead logically to the conclusion. Similarly, consider this variation:

You should buy this t-shirt, because a portion of the proceeds go to raise awareness of lung cancer. Lung cancer is a debilitating, painful disease, and millions suffer from it.

Again, the argument is appealing; a prospective purchaser will feel bad about those suffering from lung cancer, and buying the shirt will let him/her feel better for doing something. However, those suffering will most likely not benefit from the "awareness" raised, and the pity evoked does nothing to explain how the purchase will help - or, as a result, why anyone should buy the shirt.

Appeals to Pity in Politics