Topic 8 Reading Exercises from: Copi, Irving M. Introduction to Logic, 14th Edit
ID: 389119 • Letter: T
Question
Topic 8 Reading Exercises from:
Copi, Irving M. Introduction to Logic, 14th Edition. Routledge.
7.8 INSTRUCTIONS
Discuss the various arguments that might be offered to refute each of the following:
Example Problem
If we interfere with the publication of false and harmful doctrines, we shall be guilty of suppressing the liberties of others, whereas if we do not interfere with the publication of such doctrines, we run the risk of losing our own liberties. We must either interfere or not interfere with the publication of false and harmful doctrines. Hence we must either be guilty of suppressing the liberties of others or else run the risk of losing our own liberties.
Example Solution
It is impossible to go between the horns. It is possible to grasp it by either horn, arguing either (a) that liberties do not properly include the right to publish false and harmful doctrines or (b) that we run no risk of losing our own liberties if we vigorously oppose false and harmful doctrines with true and helpful ones. It could plausibly be rebutted (but not refuted) by the use of its ingredients to prove that “we must either be guiltless of suppressing the liberties of others or else run no risk of losing our own liberties.”
Proble: 17. The argument under the present head may be put into a very concise form, which appears altogether conclusive. Either the mode in which the federal government is to be constructed will render it sufficiently dependent on the people, or it will not. On the first supposition, it will be restrained by that dependence from forming schemes obnoxious to their constituents. On the other supposition, it will not possess the confidence of the people, and its schemes of usurpation will be easily defeated by the State governments, who will be supported by the people.
—James Madison, The Federalist Papers, no. 46, 1788
Explanation / Answer
17: The mode in which the federal government is to be constructed should be dependent on the people. It is the defining character of a democracy that government should be elected by the people and that they should function and govern keeping in mind the best interests of the people that have elected them. If the construction of federal government is not dependent on people then politicians will start misusing power. More importantly the voice of common citizens will get lost and their interests will be ignored. The exercising of power and civic responsibility should go hand in hand and this is possible only when the formation of federal government is dependent on the people. The government can still form obnoxious schemes but they will have to educate people on the needs of these schemes and how these schemes will help the people in the long run.