14 Feb y 1813

Church II Topics Ch.6

13 § 1 Abstract

Part 5. Power over persuasion

To have this may be satisfaction: answer to

or else it is equally competent to use the deceiving

and employ the same course, by , on each side

and and on every side

3. By every one who

approves the forcibly

deceptive process, evidence

is afforded that he

does not believe

propositions

asserted.

3. By every by when the application of the forcibly-deceptive

process has been conceived on, and as well as as also by way

or by whom such application that operation is solicited, supported,

defended recommended or approved, evidence is afforded [evidence of

the circumstantial kind] operating in proof of the proposition

that by that according to the persuasion of, in a greater or less proportion

the body of supposed facts the existence of which narrated by it is in and

by that asserted, and the body of propositions contained in it the truth of

which are asserted, are not true.

For unless men

have a

propensity to falshood

the odium & trouble

will be incurred

to no use

For, unless in his opinion there exists on the

part of mankind in general, when left free without force or forced to form their own

persuasions each man has his own persuasion, a predominant

propensity to embrace falshood in preference to truth - to form

wrong opinions instead of right ones, the trouble and odium

over and above the just mentioned circumstantial evidence of

falshood and insincerity attached to the employment employing of this

forcibly deceptive process - will be so much trouble taken

and odium incurred to no use.

In answer the

advocate of force

can only say that

though he is a

friend to truth

all others prefer

falshood.

In For answer to this objection observation argument there remains it

is true, is the character of an argument capable of being

employed by an advocate of the forcibly-deceptive system, an

assertion to that effect, viz. Though when left free and adequately informed mankind in general

are disposed and apt to embrace falshood in preference to truth, I, am

I, am an exception to this rule. It is a gift peculiar to myself

or shared with only a few whose persuasions accord with

mine. to embrace truth in preference to falshood. In

the present instance having accordingly embraced truth, and

seeing at the same time a majority of the persons concerned labouring

under the opposite unhappy propensity, I take this method of

of preserving them against from

the unhappy consequences.