Appeal to pity

Informal fallacies → Relevance / appeals

Appeal to pity is when you try to get a "yes" by making people feel sorry for you—instead of showing that your answer or request is actually right or deserved. Sympathy is human, but it doesn't by itself establish that a grade should be higher, that a contract should be awarded, or that a verdict should go your way. The fallacy is to use pity in place of relevant reasons. The question is whether the claim or request is justified, not how sorry we feel.

Examples

  • I should get a better grade because I had a really hard term and my dog died.

  • We need to win this contract—we're a small family business.

  • You have to believe me—I've been through so much.

  • Give me another chance—I'll lose everything.

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