date

22 July 1810 1810 July 22 22 Fallacies
22 July 1810 1810 July 22 22

Fallacies Ch | | Authority-worshipper

11

4. Churchmen's Sinister interest

3. It is their interest that whatever be the absurdity of the articles in question it is their interest that as many persons as jointly with themselves have been in the habit of professing a belief in them should continue in that same habit, as also that as many more should engage in it as possible, and their interest in this repsect is the stronger, the more flagrant and palpable that absurdity, the stronger and more urgent is that interest. For the greater the number of those who in appearance join with themselves in the same belief the greater is the number who join with them in delivering [...?] for the benefit of himself and the rest a sort of evidence /circumstantial wisdom, such as is delivered by authority /it is in the nature of authority to deliver//, registering the imputation of absurdity, and who at any rate stand precluded each of them from joining in the casting of any such imputation upon the rest.
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    . 4. Churchmen's Sinister interest

    7. Be[?] the subject of legisation what it may, in the present instance /the field of legislation and government/ it is But the more strongly it is a man's interest to propagate fallacy, with the better grounded assurance may it be pronounced of him (individual character out of the question) that on every occasion at all in relation to that same subject it will be his study and endeavour to give currency and efficiency to fallacy: and the more assuredly will the aim and tendency of any opinion he delivers be to promote deception, and therefore in the character of authority, the less fit to be received.
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    4. Churchmen's Sinister interest

    5 But in whatsoever shape abuse presents itself it is among its characteristic /common/ properties /not only/ to be served by fallacies, and /but/ to stand in need of every /whatever/ support that it is in the power of fallacu to afford to it. It is therefore the interest of the class of men in question, and in general of every man who belongs to it, to give on every occasion whatsoever currency and efficiency it is in his power to give to fallacy in every shape: and this not only to such particular fallacies of every such form which alone the abuses in which, as above, he has a special interest can receive immediate service, but to all fallacies from which abuse in any shape can receive service

    9. It being his interest to give the utmost degree of currency and efficiency to all fallacies the tendency of whichis to give protection to abuse, it is his interest to promote that system /plan/ of education whatsoever it be, which with the strongest degree of efficiency tends to dispose men /the mind/ to the acceptance and propagation of fallacies: which in the most efficient degree tends to divest men as well of the power as of the will to /either of to discover/ their title to that denomination /character/ or to profit by the discovery if made by other eyes and consequently to discourage and if possible suppress every system and course and species of education the tendency of which is /which tends/ in any degree to preserve men from the influence [...?] of such delusions.
  • Title: [22 July 1810 1810 July 22 34 Fallacies]
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    Fallacies Ch. | | Authority worshipper

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    4. Churchmen's Sinister interest

    4. 1 Perpetuation of immorality in the shape of insincerity /shame[?]/ 2 perpetuation of absurdity in matters /on subjects/ of highest importance 3 extortion practiced upon the many for the benefit of a few - 4 in the distribution of rewards /the matter[?]/ idleness and incapacity, preferred to laborious ability and useful talent rare talents laboriously employed employed in public service. 5 the means of corruption poured in a copious and uninterrupted strain into hands constantly occupied in the application of them to that purpose - 6 a vast in any[?] of the three kingdoms a vast majority kept in a state of humiliation debasement /degradation/ and avowed humiliation to no other purpose than to secure the continuance[?] of the other abuses just mentioned - there are the /many/ abuses in the defence of which men of the description in question are exterted[?] and engaged in course[?].

    7 But whosoever is engaged by interest in the support of any one abuse of /in/ government, (it has been already shewn) (+) is engaged by interest in the support of every abuse that remains or shall be introduced /has place or it declared in future[?] to have place/ in government, since whoever has no interest in the support of any one such abuse will, unless by his own might /sufficient power/ he is enabled[?] to support it, look out of course for support from all other quarters from which support is promised to it: the result of which is that for the sake of findung effectual support for the abuses in which he

    himself

    himself is specially interested, each will lend his support to every abuse in support of which any other person[?] member of the confederacy is interested.