The fallacy occurs when people use pity or sympathy to obtain support for their argument.
Let’s examine the following example:
What follows is a summary of the arguments in the video:
Professor, you should really reconsider my grade. Without a passing grade, I will lose my financial aid.
Let’s analyze the arguments. You have two attempts to complete each item.
* 1. What is the arguer’s claim? (Please select the best answer.)
A. You should really reconsider my grade.
B. Without a passing grade, I will lose my financial aid.
Awesome! This statement presents the arguer’s position/ claim.
The statement is not the claim. It is the reason that the arguer uses to support the claim, though this “reason” is not relevant to the argument.
The statement in option A presents the arguer’s position/ claim.
* 2. What is the reason that the arguer uses to support the position? (Please select the best answer.)
A. You should really reconsider my grade.
B. Without a passing grade, I will lose my financial aid.
This statement presents the arguer’s position/ claim, not the reason.
Good job! Although the statement is not relevant to the argument, it is the reason that the arguer uses to support the claim.
The following statement is the reason: Without a passing grade, I will lose my financial aid. Although this statement is not relevant to the argument, it is the reason that the arguer uses to support the claim.
Let’s review the argument and present it in standard format:
Premise/ reason: You should really reconsider my grade.
Claim/ position: Without a passing grade, I will lose my financial aid.
Faculty assign grades according to students’ performance, not financial needs. Although losing financial aid is unfortunate, it is irrelevant to grade assignments. The arguer uses pity to obtain support for the claim, and thus commits a fallacy called “appeal to pity” or “appeal to compassion.”