1819 Aug. 12

Fallacies Ch | | Logical High-fliers

5

1 Exposition

1 Corruption Intendate[?] 1 Tyranny Unpre[...?]ed rule

Law, Conflation[?] &c

In

The fallacy consists in making use of a name of lax import without applying to it those /such/ limitations as would be necessary to confine what is said /predicated/ of it with the pale of truth: and on that account wherever /on every occasion on which/ the language affords a name by the use of which that which is predicated would be confined within the pale of truth, avoiding the use of this /such/ precisely proper term.

By this expedient, by lumping under the same more extensive name objects that are indefensible /plainly favourable/, it /which under their precise and appropriate/ presents them to view as innoxious. In this case, what the object for which there is a precise name is a sort of fouls spot, the lax name serves as a sort of cloak to it.

Examples Foul shot, tyranny; cloak, Order foul spots, Election corruption, and Election terrorism; cloak, influence.

Thus though you could not praise as useful nor so much as vindicate as innoxious tyranny under its own name: under the name of order, you may not only vindicate but even praise it. Maintenance of order you may say ought on every occasion to be among the objects of government. But by these same practices /arrangements/ by which tyranny is exercised order is maintained. Thus by causing maintenance of order to be indiscriminately and in all cases regarded as a justifiable, and even laudable exercise of the power of government, you cause the exercise of tyranny to be regarded on many occasions as a justifiable and even laudable exercise of the powers of government.