The ad misericordiam argument is the appeal to piety to achieve conviction when arguments are lacking. It is a fallacy that consists in the manipulation of feelings to avoid punishment.
A good example would be: “Mr. Policeman, I ran the red light because I'm in a hurry. I have my mother hospitalized and I must take the orders to the sanatorium so that they can operate on her. Please don't fine me. "
This example tries to justify a fault with a fact that cannot be verified. It is impossible to verify if it is telling the truth or if it is a fallacy.
What is the fallacy or argument ad misericordiam?
This type of appellation is found a lot in the courts of justice, where the facts are ignored. It's about getting acquittal through mercy on the jury.
In this way, it is about turning the perpetrator into a victim, arguing situations in the life of the accused. This fallacy is often invoked when the evidence does not favor the accused.
Through the ad misericordiam argument, circumstances of the personal life are exhibited, be they social, economic, work, family or educational of the defendant, in order to exonerate him for the fact committed.
Examples
- “Mr. Judge, my client did not kill her husband. She has enough with being alone ”.
- “Gentlemen of the Jury, my client did not want to kill his son. We all know the love that a father has for his children. If he abandoned him at 5 years it was because he could not support himself, much less could he do it with his son. You imagine the moral damage it is to lose a child. In addition to this moral damage, are we going to deprive him of his freedom for the same crime?
- "We must invade this country because they are developing nuclear programs dangerous for humanity."
- "Mr. Inspector, if you fine me I will not be able to feed my fourteen children."
- "If you let me, I think I'll kill myself."
- “Professor, my father is very ill. If you put me off, I could give you something, and you would feel guilty. "
- “They cannot condemn him! If he stole to feed the poor! ”.
- "Gentlemen of the jury, my client had to do with the death of his parents, but bear in mind that he has just been orphaned."
- “Mr. Policeman, please don't ticket me, I turned left because my son leaves the school and starts crying if he doesn't see me. You don't want to create a trauma and feel guilty ”.
- “I understand, Inspector, but I was speeding because a friend needs blood and I am the only one who can donate to him. I am his only salvation.
- "Boss, I'm not stealing the tool, I just borrowed it to repair a water pipe in my house, because my children are wet from that."
- “Mr. Judge, my client's children hadn't eaten for days, that's why he had to steal some money. Who wouldn't if their kids are hungry? "
References
- "Argument ad misericordiam" in Wikipedia. (December 2016). Retrieved in September 2017 from Wikipedia at: es.wikipedia.org
- "Examples of ad misericordiam" in Retoricas (February 2015). Recovered in September 2017 from Retoricas at: rhetoricas.com
- "Argumentum ad misericordiam" in Xing (November 2010). Recovered in September 2017 from Xing at: xing.com
- "Ad Misericordiam Fallacy" in Use of Reason. Dictionary of Fallacies. Recovered in September 2017 from Use of reason. Dictionary of Fallacies at: perso.wanadoo.es
- "Argument of mercy" in Falacia ad misericordiam (May 2015). Recovered in September 2017 from Falacia ad misericordiam in: fadmisericordiam.blogspot.com.ar
- «Ad misericordiam» in Philosophy of communication (Febreri 2016) Recovered in September 2017 from Philosophy of Communication in: philosophiacomunicacion.wordpress.com