Appeal to Pity: Argumentum Ad Misericordiam (SUNY Series in Logic (Suny Series in Logic and Language) [Paperback]

Douglas N. Walton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 8, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0791434621 | ISBN-13: 978-0791434628 | Edition: First Edition

Appeal to pity has frequently been exploited with amazing success as a deceptive tactic of argumentation, so much so that it has traditionally been treated as a fallacy. Using a case study method, the author examines examples of appeals to pity and compassion in real arguments in order to classify, analyze, and evaluate the types of arguments used in these appeals. Among the cases studied are the controversial use of "poster kids" in the Jerry Lewis Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy and the "baby incubators story" deployed by a public relations firm to influence the decision to send U.S. forces into Kuwait during the Gulf War. In addition to the analyses of these and other case studies, this book provides, for the first time, precise guidelines and useful criteria with which to identify, analyze, and evaluate instances of the ad misericordiam argument.

Product Details

• Paperback: 254 pages
• Publisher: State University of New York Press; First Edition edition (May 8, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0791434621
• ISBN-13: 978-0791434628
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #709,019 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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4.0 out of 5 stars Systematic examination of arguments based on appeals to compassion, mercy, pity, and sympathy, December 28, 2010

By 

E. Jaksetic (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Appeal to Pity: Argumentum Ad Misericordiam (SUNY Series in Logic (Suny Series in Logic and Language) (Paperback)

Appeals to compassion, mercy, pity, and sympathy are often made by: (a) charities seeking contributions; (b) criminal defendants seeking to avoid conviction or mitigate punishment after conviction; (c) individuals or groups supporting political or policy proposals; and (d) individuals seeking to excuse or mitigate their actions. This book sets forth a conceptual framework for examining and evaluating those kinds of arguments.

The author reviews textbooks, which take the traditional view that "argumentum ad misericordiam" (usually translated as "appeal to pity") is a logical fallacy, and then looks at historical examples of philosophers who discuss the "appeal to pity" (Chapters 1-2). The author tries to identify and differentiate among various arguments that have been characterized as "appeal to pity" arguments in an effort to analyze the structure of such arguments (Chapters 3-4). The author then uses a particular case study to illustrate and elaborate on various points he has made about "appeal to pity" arguments (Chapter 5). The author challenges the traditional view that "appeal to pity" arguments are always fallacious and improper, and contends that "appeal to pity" arguments can be proper under certain circumstances (Chapter 6). Finally, the author applies his analysis of "appeal to pity" arguments to several case studies mentioned and discussed earlier in the book (Chapter 7).

The author makes an interesting and very plausible argument that people should carefully differentiate between appeals to compassion, appeals to mercy, appeals to pity, and appeals to sympathy. The author contends that the words compassion, mercy, pity, and sympathy have different meanings and connotations, and that those different meanings and connotations are relevant to identifying, differentiating, and evaluating arguments that invoke those four words.

The book is technical in nature, and not written for casual reading. The book could be of interest to persons trained in, or studying, philosophy, theology, ethics, or law. Anyone interested in learning how to better understand, analyze and evaluate arguments that invoke compassion, mercy, pity or sympathy should read this book. Because of the technical nature of the author's analysis, some prior exposure to philosophical analysis, moral or theological reasoning, legal reasoning, informal logic, or argumentation theory would be helpful to the reader.