Is there a fallacy in my statement?

Question

Jeneka	Is there a fallacy in my statement? Is there a fallacy in the following statement? "The churches have sought in recent years to reassert their influence. The easiest way would be to demand a return of their schools, which wouldn't be practical, even if it was legal. But they might do two things: state with clarity their concerns and engage the public in a serious discussion about their ideas. Second, if Mr Thwaites is to be trusted, a reset with Minister Reid may well be on."
	asked on Monday, Mar 19, 2018 10:50:40 AM by Jeneka
Top Categories Suggested by Community
Comments

Want to get notified of all questions as they are asked? Update your mail preferences and turn on "Instant Notification."

Uncomfortable Ideas: Facts don't care about feelings. Science isn't concerned about sensibilities. And reality couldn't care less about rage.

This is a book about uncomfortable ideas—the reasons we avoid them, the reasons we shouldn’t, and discussion of dozens of examples that might infuriate you, offend you, or at least make you uncomfortable.

Many of our ideas about the world are based more on feelings than facts, sensibilities than science, and rage than reality. We gravitate toward ideas that make us feel comfortable in areas such as religion, politics, philosophy, social justice, love and sex, humanity, and morality. We avoid ideas that make us feel uncomfortable. This avoidance is a largely unconscious process that affects our judgment and gets in the way of our ability to reach rational and reasonable conclusions. By understanding how our mind works in this area, we can start embracing uncomfortable ideas and be better informed, be more understanding of others, and make better decisions in all areas of life.

Get 20% off this book and all Bo's books*. Use the promotion code: websiteusers

* This is for the author's bookstore only. Applies to autographed hardcover, audiobook, and ebook.

Get the Book

Answers

Bo Bennett, PhD 0	The churches have sought in recent years to reassert their influence. The ambiguity here is a problem. What is meant by "the churches"? To me, it sounds as if it means "some churches" but is being sold as "all churches" in order to magnify the importance. The easiest way would be to demand a return of their schools, which wouldn't be practical, even if it was legal. This seems like an obvious statement of opinion. But they might do two things: state with clarity their concerns and engage the public in a serious discussion about their ideas. Speculation/opinion. Second, if Mr Thwaites is to be trusted, a reset with Minister Reid may well be on. I am not sure what this means outside of the larger context. It might be an ad hominem or even poisoning the well, but it might also be justified.
	answered on Monday, Mar 19, 2018 11:12:42 AM by Bo Bennett, PhD
Comments