Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Child-like fallacies..

"We like Johnny cuz he can make a home-run!"
"I can make a homerun too!"
"You just don't get it do you?"

Yup. How many children have attempted fame to "be like Mike" and dunk a basketball, as if that were the only requirement for the NBA draft?

Oddly enough, this exemplifies a common formal logical fallacy (Excluded Middle):
A = B
C = B
therefore, A = C

Nope. Sorry. Not allowed. This one is though:
A = B
B = C
therefore, A = C

So, the children should try this one:
"We like people who make homeruns!"
"I'm a person who can make homeruns!"
"Yea! We like you!"

See the difference? They just like Johnny, not because of the tid-bit of info they gave you.

And yes, this *is* how I'll raise my children to explain life to them ;)

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