Which fallacy describes arguing that a small first step will inevitably lead to a chain of catastrophic events?

• A. Red herring
• B. False cause
• C. Slippery slope
• D. Hasty generalization

Answer: (C)

Slippery slope describes arguing that a small initial step will inevitably trigger a chain of negative events leading to a disaster, without solid evidence that each link in that chain will occur. The hallmark is assuming inevitability and a cascading sequence just because the first step happened, rather than showing credible cause-and-effect at every stage. This often relies on fear or emotion rather than proven likelihood, making the claim persuasive but logically weak.

By contrast, red herring distracts from the actual issue, false cause misattributes a causal link, and hasty generalization draws a broad conclusion from too few observations. The statement here fits slippery slope because it hinges on an unproven chain of events and the inevitability of a catastrophic outcome starting from a small step.