Stumped by simple validity problem =\: Philosophy Forums

Stumped by simple validity problem =\

uBeR
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Posted 10/28/09 - 07:37 PM: Subject: Stumped by simple validity problem =\	#1
I got stumped by a simple validity problem. I am supposed to show a counterexample (show it is invalid) for the following: Social change always produces violence. Violence is bad. Therefore, Social change is bad. If social change always produces something is bad, how does it not follow that social change is not bad? I know this is supposed to be a simple logic problem, but I'm not seeing the answer, unfortunately. Any help would be much appreciated. Edited by uBeR on 10/28/09 - 07:47 PM
People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought, which they avoid. —Søren Kierkegaard

Incision
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Posted 10/28/09 - 08:16 PM:	#2
How about this? Inventing a cure for cancer requires hard work. Hard work is bad. Therefore, inventing a cure for cancer is bad. If we triumph over cowardice, then we feel cowardice. We should not feel cowardice. Therefore, we should not triumph over cowardice.

uBeR
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Posted 10/28/09 - 08:35 PM:	#3
Yes, but aren't those argument still valid? I see the point you're making, but I'm supposed to show the argument is invalid. If the premises are true, then it seems the conclusions must also be true.
People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought, which they avoid. —Søren Kierkegaard

unenlightened
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Posted 10/29/09 - 05:59 AM:	#4
The argument is invalid because there is a move from 'produces' to 'is' that is unjustified. If the conclusion was: Therefore, Social change always produces something bad. That would be valid. Making an omelette requires breaking eggs, but fortunately, there is more to it than that, and a good meal can come out of a destructive act.
...most of our actions are the result of the past, or according to a future ideal. That's not action, that is just conformity. J Krishnamurti "Philosophy, to the Philistine, is an evolutionary process, watched over by some sort of brisk dynamic Providence, and culminating in the supreme insight of modern thought." John Cowper Powys

Belgarath
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Posted 10/29/09 - 08:38 AM:	#5
Incision wrote: How about this? Inventing a cure for cancer requires hard work. Hard work is bad. Therefore, inventing a cure for cancer is bad. If we triumph over cowardice, then we feel cowardice. We should not feel cowardice. Therefore, we should not triumph over cowardice. That is nicely put. I would see that statement, that social change is bad, as invalid. The social change for women in the'20s, where a good handful of young women became flappers, was a healhy change. It helped lead to women rights and respect. I apologize for not giving a better example but this is the first that came to my head in propably many cases. For the sake of argument, I do believe that there was some violence concerning the issue.

uBeR
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Posted 10/29/09 - 03:44 PM:	#6
Thanks, unenlightened, that was helpful.
People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought, which they avoid. —Søren Kierkegaard

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