So slippery slope is a fallacy, is it?

Well, given that one of us here has written a book on phlisophical fallacies yes, we do have to say that there is indeed a logical fallacy called the slippery slope one. That this action will inevitably lead to this next one and so on down that descent into madness. However, as those who have actually read this - or other - books upon philosophy and logic will recognise the fallacy is in assuming that what might happen will inevitably do so. If the second thing will happen as a result of the first, not might happen, then it’s not a fallacy at all.

Ahem:

Moves to ban smoking open the door to similar measures to tackle obesity, a former health minister has suggested.

Lord Bethell said that a tax on unhealthy foods should be next on the list, along with measures to stop junk food outlets opening near schools.

The Tory peer, who was a minister under Matt Hancock, welcomed Rishi Sunak’s plans to keep increasing the age that cigarettes can be legally purchased.

He said that the Government should make it “the first step of several” to overhaul lifestyles in Britain.

Lord Bethell said that there had been “a pull back” from efforts to tackle obesity, which was a matter of “regret” to him.

A government-commissioned food strategy in 2021 called for an expansion of sugar taxes, to cover foods as well as drinks, and the introduction of a salt tax, but the measures were never implemented.

Other measures promised under the Boris Johnson administration – including a proposed ban on adverts for such products online and before 9pm on television, and a ban on buy-one-get-one-free deals – have been pushed back.

Banning smoking is the start of that slippery slope. Discuss.