1819 Aug. 11

Fallacies Logical High-Fliers

2

All men do not see into the theory of this operation: but all men are continually vituepes[?] of its effects.

As by this means /instrument/ that power that belongs to the political sanction is exercised, so by the same means /instrument/ is the power that belongs to the popular or moral sanction exercised: it is exercised in a man favour, by attaching to his proper name a generic name of esteem: it is exercised in his disfavour by attaching to his proper name a generic name of reproach

Of this we have seen instances under the head of Personalities vituperative and Personalities laudative

To lessen the estimation in which a man is held and by that means lessen the force with which an argument from him may operate on other men by the influence exercised by it in the next derivative judgement as it may happen to them to form in relation to the subject matter in question, a generic name of reproach as above is attached either to the individual himself, or what comes to the same thing to the measure or arrangement he is occupied in supporting, or the argument by which he is supporting it, and thus by this fallacy the power of the popular or moral sanction is abused, and applied to the purpose of deceit.