'No evil should be allowed that good may come of it; all punishment is an evil; therefore no punishment should be allowed that good may come of it.'—'Evil' is ambiguous, meaning wrong-doing in the precedent and pain in the case; the conclusion is therefore fallacious.
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'The principles of justice are variable; the appointments of nature are invariable; therefore the principles of justice are no appointments of nature.'—(Arist. Eth. Bk. V., from Whately.) The terms 'principles of justice' and 'nature' require to be defined. It might be said that justice is one principle, everywhere and always the same, and that only its embodiments in law and custom are variable.
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'What happens every day is not improbable; some things, against which the chances are many thousands to one, happen every day; therefore some things against which the chances are many thousands to one, are not improbable.'—A fallacy of division: that improbable things in general happen every day does not render the occurrence of any one a probable event.
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'Protection from punishment is plainly due to the innocent; therefore, as you maintain that this person ought not to be punished, it appears that you are convinced of his innocence.'—A fallacy of cross reasoning.
| I. | |
| Innocent persons | deserve protection |
| This person deserves protection | N. C. |
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