Appeal to flattery

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Appeal to flattery^[1] (also apple polishing or wheel greasing) is a fallacy in which a person uses flattery, excessive compliments, in an attempt to win support for their side.

Flattery is often used to hide the true intent of an idea or proposal. Praise offers a momentary personal distraction that can often weaken judgment. Moreover, it is usually a cunning form of appeal to consequences, since the audience is subject to be flattered as long as they comply with the flatterer.

Example:

"Surely a man as smart as you can see this is a brilliant proposal." (failing to accept the proposal is a tacit admission of stupidity)

Appeal to flattery is a specific kind of appeal to emotion.

Bibliography [edit]

Plutarch. How to know a flatterer from a friend. Paris: Editions DUPLEIX. ISBN 9791092019001.

References [edit]

^ "Fallacy: Appeal to Flattery". The Nizkor Project. Retrieved 2010-12-10.

v t e Fallacies of relevance

A dicto simpliciter ad dictum secundum quid (Accident) Ad nauseam (Argument from repetition) Argumentum ad ignorantiam (Argument from ignorance) Argumentum e silentio (Argument from silence) Argumentum ad temperantiam (Argument to moderation) Argumentum ad populum (Appeal to the people) Base rate Compound question Evidence of absence Ignoratio elenchi (Irrelevant conclusion) Invincible ignorance Loaded question Moralistic Naturalistic Non sequitur Proof by assertion Special pleading Straw man Two wrongs make a right

Appeals to emotion	Fear Flattery Novelty Pity Ridicule Children's interests Invented here Island mentality Not invented here Repugnance Spite

Genetic fallacies	Ad hominem Ad hominem tu quoque Appeal to accomplishment Appeal to authority Appeal to etymology Appeal to motive Appeal to nature Appeal to novelty Appeal to poverty Appeals to psychology Argumentum ad lapidem (Appeal to the stone) Appeal to tradition Appeal to wealth Association Bulverism Chronological snobbery Ipse dixit Poisoning the well Pro hominem Reductio ad Hitlerum

Appeals to consequences	Argumentum ad baculum (Appeal to force) Wishful thinking

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