Appeal to Consequences
(argumentum ad consequentiam)
Definition:
The author points to the disagreeable consequences of holding a particular belief in order to show that this belief is false.
Examples:
(i) You can't agree that evolution is true, because if it were, then we would be no better than the apes.
(ii) You must believe in God, otherwise life would have no meaning.
(iii) I could never agree that smoking is harmful because if I did I would have to stop.
Proof:
Identify the consequences to and argue that what we want to be the case does not affect what is in fact the case.
References:
Cedarblom and Paulsen: 100, Davis: 63
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