July 4th

Istockphoto.com

LANGER, SUSANNE K (1953)(1967) An Introduction to Symbolic Logic, Dover Publications, New York.

The Langer philosophy text review, continues.

Some key symbols from the textbook:

≡df = Equivalence by definition
: = Equal (s)
ε = Epsilon and means is
⊃ = Is the same as
⊨ is Entails
˜ = Not
∃ = There exists
∃! = There exists
∴ = Therefore
· = Therefore
< = Is included
v = a logical inclusive disjunction (disjunction is the relationship between two distinct alternatives).

Ironically, this July 4 entry features a United States of America example, from philosopher Langer. A 'happy accident' as the late Bob Ross would state.

This is class A: Born of American parents, these children may be foreign born, or American born, but they are born of American parents. (141)

This is class B: These children are born of foreign or American parents, but the children were born in the United States of America. (141).

Langer denotes a third class, not called class C, which is a class of native born American born of American parents or born on American soil. (141).

Langer explains that native born Americans belong to class A or class B or both. (141). The class of native born Americans by the use of Langer's symbolic logic is

A + B

It is disjunction, or the sum, of class A and class B. (141). This being children born of American parents and children born on American soil. (141).

Therefore:

A v B : B v A

Class A is class B is true, equals Class B is class A is true

A v B ⊃ B v A

Class A is class B is true, is the same as Class B is class A is true

A v B ⊨ B v A

Class A is class B is true, entails Class B is class A is true
---

A common website theme:

Humanity has fallen and is universally, sinfully corrupt. The only means of salvation for the individual or nations is in the applied atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ through the trinitarian God. This is in biblical terms, being legally justified and saved by grace through faith, for good works, not by good works. (see Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, James). Or in Reformed theology language, justified and saved by grace, alone, through faith, alone.

Ephesians 2: 8-10  New American Standard Bible

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and [h]that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Each nation and person is corrupted by sin, but even so, there are benefits to living in Western, democratic nations.

This July 1: Canada Day and July 4, Independence Day, period, I will write that philosophically and politically, I am blessed and glad to be associated with these nations such as Canada and the United Kingdom, through citizenship, and the United States, culturally. At least these three nations provide significant freedom of religion, speech and expression for their citizens and residents.

In Three Minutes: Thank you universe?

Today

Oxford Dictionary of Science, (2010), Sixth Edition, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Early Universe 

The study of cosmology at the time very soon after the big bang. (261).

The Big Bang Theory

The theory suggests that the universe originated as a minute but as a very hot body and that the temperature has been falling as the universe continues to expand. (86-87).

The universe is all matter, energy and space that exists. (847).

Thoughtco.com by Andrew Zimmerman Jones: Updated September 30, 2016

'Matter has many definitions, but the most common is that it is any substance which has mass and occupies space. All physical objects are composed of matter, in the form of atoms, which are in turn composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons.'

Thoughtco.com by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.: Updated April 11, 2017

'There are many possible definitions for matter. In science, matter is the term for any type of material. Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. At a minimum, matter requires at least one subatomic particle, although most matter consists of atoms. The word "matter" is sometimes used to refer to a pure substance.'

Energy is a system's ability to do work. (289).

According to modern science, the universe is finite. This is indicated even when/if science will not use the term 'finite'. According to my Reformed, biblical theology and philosophy of religion view, God is infinite. This is not an original view of mine, this is historical New Testament theology.

Therefore, the universe should not be acknowledged as the primary source of existence; God/the first cause should be acknowledged as the primary source of existence.

In three minutes, I very briefly, elaborate.

Yesterday

Poisoning the well (Special Canada 150th Edition)

Powerhouse theatre

PIRIE, MADSEN (2006)(2015) How To Win Every Argument, Bloomsbury, London.

This fallacy discredits the opposition before they have stated a single word. (163). At its crudest form it consists in making unpleasant comments about intellectual opposition. (163).

Pirie explains as example (163) that if a person states that everyone other than an idiot can reason that not enough money is spent on education, this person poisons the well for someone that suggests enough money is spent on education.

Canada 150th Anniversary fallacy, examples

American: A nation that does not hold to a republic, in our case, a constitutional federal republic as a form of government, is a nation of idiots!

Canadian: We do not hold to a republic, as a form of government, we hold to a federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy.

British: We do not hold to a republic, as a form of government, we hold to a parliamentary constitutional monarchy.
---

I am not an expert on political science. But from intellectuals and academics I have heard and read, there are opinions that the American political system is superior for maintaining freedom and democracy, while others reason a British (Canada included) parliamentary system provides more freedom and democracy. It is difficult to measure in many cases.

I do not claim to know the answer, definitively and definitely, but it seems to me that often the nature of laws passed within those systems and societies and how they are regulated will have more to do with the level of freedom and democracy, than the technical systems used.

The levels of freedom of religion, for example, would largely depend on how a constitution, if there is one, is interpreted, and the laws sanctioned by governments and societies within a system.

A constitution, as in the United States of America or Canada, is not a guarantee of greater religious freedom.
---

Canadian: Any nation that does not have hockey as its favourite sport, is a nation of idiots!

American: Our favourite sport is football (National Football League).

British: Our favourite sport is football, real football, not what the Americans call football.
---

I reason this fallacy uses ad hominem attacks (against the person). Logically fallacious agrees:

Logically fallacious

'Poisoning the Well (also known as: discrediting, smear tactics)

Description: To commit a preemptive ad hominem attack against an opponent. That is, to prime the audience with adverse information about the opponent from the start, in an attempt to make your claim more acceptable or discount the credibility of your opponent’s claim.

Logical Form: Adverse information (be it true or false) about person 1 is presented. Therefore, the claim(s) of person 1 will be false.'

A one-sided argument

Bolton, England, trekearth.com

A one-sided argument

Preface

This article was used in support of a Blogger article presented on academia.edu:

Tuesday, September 07, 2021 Cherry picking fallacy

PIRIE, MADSEN (2006)(2015) How To Win Every Argument, Bloomsbury, London.

One-sided argument

Many decisions persons may weigh in have advantages and disadvantages. The fallacy of one-sided assessment is fallen into when only one side of a case is taken into consideration. (158).

Pros and cons should be evaluated in order to make judgements based on the balance. (158-159). This fallacy can err on only counting the advantages or disadvantages in regard to an issue. Relevant material is omitted from arguments in order to achieve a one-sided argument. (159). This entry is quite similar to the previous entry I reviewed from Pirie: Omitting the benefit.

Providing two or more sides on an argument and supporting theology and philosophy with methodology was very much emphasized to me within my British academic studies at the University of Wales.

Besides this approach providing more potential objectivity, at least, in the evaluation if arguments; it also disciplines the academic mind to reasonably consider alternative views. This is an approach which in theory should make an academic less biased and partisan, but unfortunately at times within academia, supposed objectivity and reason can be limited to within a school of thought and its worldview.

This occurred when I attended the University of Manchester as my kind tutor was away for the year. My developing Reformed views on theodicy were deemed academically unacceptable by the temporary tutors. Instead, I was to embrace secular perspectives in regard to theodicy.

I was to embrace, one-sided  premises and conclusions determined by the academy. Thankfully, the University of Wales, equally prestigious in the fields of Theology and Philosophy of Religion, provided more academic freedom.

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press. 

LANGER, SUSANNE K (1953)(1967) An Introduction to Symbolic Logic, Dover Publications, New York. (Philosophy). 

PIRIE, MADSEN (2006)(2015) How To Win Every Argument, Bloomsbury, London. 

THE CONCISE OXFORD DICTIONARY (1995) Della Thompson (ed.), Oxford, Clarendon Press.