CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

Sect. 1. A Fallacy, what..

Sect. 2. Fallacies, by whom treated of heretofore.
Sect. 3. Relation of Fallacies to vulgar Errors
Sect. 4. Political Fallacies the subject of this Work
Sect. 5. Division or Classification of Fallacies
Sect. 6. Nomenclature of political Fallacies

Sect. 7. Contrast between the present Work and Hamilton's
Parliamentary Logic

Page.

1

ib.

5

7

9

12.

16

PART THE FIRST.

FALLACIES OF AUTHORITY,

The subject of which is Authority in various shapes; and the object,

to repress all exercise of the reasoning Faculty.

Chap. I. 1. Analysis of Authority

32

2. Appeal to authority in what cases fallacious..
Chap. II. The Wisdom of our Ancestors, or Chinese Argu-
ment,-(ad verecundiam).

44

69

Chap. III. 1. Fallacy of irrevocable Laws,-(ad super-
stitionem)

2. Fallacy of Vows or promissory Oaths,—(ad

superstitionem).....

Chap. IV. No-precedent Argument,-(ad verecundiam)

Chap. V. 1. Self-assumed Authority,—(ad ignorantiam, ad

verecundiam)...

2. The Self-trumpeter's Fallacy

Chap. VI. Laudatory Personalities,—(ad amicitiam).

PART THE SECOND.

FALLACIES OF DANGER,

Page.

116

120

123

The subject matter of which is Danger in various shapes; and the
object, to repress Discussion altogether, by exciting alarm.

Chap. I. Vituperative Personalities,—(ad odium)

1. Imputation of bad design

....

127

131

5. Imputation of suspicious connections.-
(Noscitur ex sociis)...

136

6. Imputation founded on identity of denomi-
nation.-(Noscitur ex cognominibus.)

7. Cause of the prevalence of the fallacies be
longing to this class

Chap. II. 1. Hobgoblin Argument, or, " No Innovation !"

137

140

(ad metum)

143

2. Apprehension of mischief from change, what
foundation it has in truth.....

145

3. Time the innovator-general, a counter fal-

Chap. III. Fallacy of Distrust, or, "What's at the bottom?"

(ad metum)

Chap. IV. Official Malefactor's Screen,-(ad metum)-

"Attack us, you attack Government."..

154

158

Page.

Chap. V. Accusation-scarer's Device,-(ad metum)—“ In-
famy must attach somewhere.". . . . . . . . 184

....

PART THE THIRD.

FALLACIES OF DELAY,

The subject matter of which is Delay in various shapes; and the
object, to postpone Discussion, with a view of eluding it.
Chap. I. The Quietist, or, "No Complaint,"-(ad quietem) 190
Chap. II. Fallacy of False-consolation,-(ad quietem)...
Chap. III. Procrastinator's Argument,ad socordiam)
"Wait a little, this is not the time."

......

Chap. IV. Snail's-pace Argument,-(ad socordiam) "One
thing at a time! Not too fast! Slow and
sure!"...

194

198

201

Chap. V. Fallacy of artful Diversion,-(ad verecundiam).. 209

PART THE FOURTH.

FALLACIES OF CONFUSION,

The object of which is, to perplex, when Discussion can no longer be

avoided.

Chap. 1. Question-begging Appellatives,—(ad judicium).. 213

Chap. II. Impostor Terms,-(ad judicium)

Chap. III. Vague Generalities,—(ad judicium).

1. Order

2. Establishment

221

230

232

235

236

248

256

Chap. IV. Allegorical Idols,-(ad imaginationem)..

258

3. Matchless Constitution

4. Balance of Power.

5. Glorious Revolution...

1. Government; for members of the governing

body

2. The Law; for lawyers.

3. The Church; for churchmen....

Chap. V. Sweeping Classifications,-(ad judicium)
1. Kings;-Crimes of Kings

2. Catholics;-Cruelties of Catholics.

Chap. VI. Sham Distinctions,-(ad judicium)

1. Liberty and Licentiousness of the Press
2. Reform ;-temperate and intemperate

Page.

258

Ibid.

260

265

Ibid.

266

271

Ibid.

276

279

Chap. VII. Popular Corruption,-(ad superbiam). . . . . . . .
Chap. VIII. Observations on the seven preceding Fallacies 287
Chap. IX. Anti-rational Fallacies,-(ad verecundiam) ....
1. Abuse of the words Speculative, Theore-
tical, &c.

2. Utopian

3. Good in theory, bad in practice.

4. Too good to be practicable

Chap. X. Paradoxical Assertion,-(ad judicium)

298

301

303

307

314

1. Dangerousness of the Principle of Utility 315
2. Uselessness of Classification ..

4. Disinterestedness a mark of Profligacy.

5. How to turn this Fallacy to account....

Chap. XI. Non-causa pro causá: or, Cause and Obstacle

confounded,-(ad judicium)

1. Effect, Good Government :-Obstacle re-

presented as a cause,-the influence of

the Crown ....

2. Effect, Good Government :-Obstacle re-

presented as a cause,-station of the
Bishops in the House of Lords
3. Effect, Useful national Learning ;-

stacle stated as a cause,-system of edu-

cation pursued in Church-of-England

Universities....

4. Effect, National virtue ;-Obstacle repre-

sented as a cause,-Opulence of the

Chap. XII. Partiality-preacher's Argument,-(ad judicium)
"From the abuse, argue not against the

use."....

Chap. XIII. The End justifies the Means,―(ad judicium)..
Chap. XIV. Opposer-general's justification,—(ad invidiam)
"Not measures, but men," or "Not

men, but measures."

Page.

334

336

339

341

344

Chap. XV. Rejection instead of Amendment,-(ad judicium) 349

PART THE FIFTH.

Chap. I. Characters common to all these Fallacies
Chap. II. Of the mischief producible by Fallacies...
Chap. III. Causes of the utterance of these Fallacies

...

359

361

362

First Cause :-Sinister interest, of the operation
of which the party affected by it is conscious.. Ibid.

Chap. IV. Second Cause:-Interest-begotten Prejudice..
Chap. V. Third Cause :-Authority-begotten Prejudice
Chap. VI. Fourth Cause :-Self-defence against counter Fal-
lacies.....

Chap. VII. Use of these Fallacies to the utterers and ac-
ceptors of them ....

382

Chap. VIII. Particular demand for Fallacies under the En-

glish Constitution

389

Chap. IX. The demand for political Fallacies:-how created

by the state of interests

392

Chap. X. Different parts which may be borne in relation

to Fallacies ....

400

Chap. XI. Uses of the preceding Exposure....

406