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	<title>AmericanFreeThinkers.com &#187; logic</title>
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		<title>The most common argument of the unskeptical</title>
		<link>http://americanfreethinkers.com/2009/11/03/the-most-common-argument-of-the-unskeptical/</link>
		<comments>http://americanfreethinkers.com/2009/11/03/the-most-common-argument-of-the-unskeptical/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:06:39 +0000</pubDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[arguments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[logic]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://americanfreethinkers.com/?p=16</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Appeal to consequences.
The basic form is:
If x is true, then y (positive consequence) will happen. X must be true.
or
If x is true, then y (negative consequence) will happen. X is not true.
Clearly, this type of argument is erroneous. It is akin to saying &#8220;It would make me happy if I were the King of France. I am the King of France.&#8221; [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Appeal to consequences.</p>
<p>The basic form is:</p>
<blockquote><p>If <em>x</em> is true, then <em>y (positive consequence)</em> will happen. <em>X</em> must be true.</p>
<p>or</p>
<p>If <em>x</em> is true, then <em>y (negative consequence)</em> will happen. <em>X</em> is not true.</p></blockquote>
<p>Clearly, this type of argument is erroneous. It is akin to saying &#8220;It would make me happy if I were the King of France. I am the King of France.&#8221; Or, more commonly, &#8220;If there is a God, then people will behave morally. There is a God.&#8221; Besides the fact that people who believe in a god clearly do not always make better moral choices, the positive outcome of more moral behavior does not prove the truth value of the statement &#8220;There is a God.&#8221; Just because it would be nice if it were true does not mean that it&#8217;s true.</p>
<p>What is often most concerning about this line of thinking is that it shows a cynical disregard for the value of truth, in favor of positive outcomes. A consequentialist &#8221;ends justify the means&#8221; type of argument. Now, if the name of the game is just picking what will get the job done, then let&#8217;s at least not pretend that we&#8217;re talking about truth. Otherwise, your arguments amount to lying in order to get what you want.</p>
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