Jamie Whyte is considered to be the author of the book Crimes against Logic reflecting the bogus arguments of journalists, politicians, priests, and many other offenders. The author tried to represent a number of logical fallacies faced in everyday life; he managed to provide a cutting and witty guide to human clear thinking. Whyte’s exploration of informal logic was disclosed through standard logical sophistries and missteps; the author managed to create a real masterpiece filling the errors in reasoning made by humanity over centuries.
Fallacies as central Issue
Crimes against Logic touches the aspect of fallacies through the description of human values and behavior following major actions performed; he pointed out that people tried to defend their disability to rationality through cynicism expressed by means of powerful influence. The author divided the book into various sections trying to describe all the spheres of fallacies expression.
One of the book sections is devoted to religious development where Whyte managed to combine logic and religion through their vivid contrast. This chapter called Prejudice in fancy Dress highlights the doctrine of unity trying to discover it by means of logic principles. The author argues How can three different things equal one touching the issue of the holy trinity. It should be noted that Whyte introduced the elements of mystery which helped him to avoid absurdity; he states that there are a lot of people being impressed by this mystery as it “gives them a thrilling fit of the cosmic heebie-jeebies” (Whyte, 34)
The theme of reasoning is especially centralized by the author. He states that this aspect is the answer to human problems. According to his considerations, the awareness of the reasoning going wrong gives an opportunity to see the depth of the problem. The errors of logic are usually met in the education system by providing invaluable information covering historical events and trigonometric calculations. The author tried to demonstrate truth hidden by religious, political, and social power.
The daily battle for human minds and hearts is in the most case caused by the truth. Whyte expressed the idea that tackling reality is much more difficult than just playing with words. The author tried to demonstrate every aspect of people’s activities and life in general by means of logical thinking; he comes to the conclusion that the reality we face every day does not really exist and human animals can be perceived as logical creatures.
Whyte’s manner of writing and personal style influenced the book’s interpretation; the author managed to use simple language and his philosophical ideas are presented in the most appropriate and understandable form.
The book reflects a number of life examples and statistical data shocking the readers and clarifying the author’s logical attitude to social life. The work is considered to be sophisticated and involving at the same time; the section Begging the Question reflects general pro-choice argument by means of which the author discloses his attitude to abortion:
“If you believe abortion is wrong, that’s fine,
do not abort your pregnancies. But show tolerance toward others
who do not share your beliefs” (Whyte, 111)
this position is considered to ignore the position of those who perceive abortion as a kind of murder as it is a moral equivalent to real killing a human being. Whyte demonstrated the aspect of tolerance which states that a fetus cannot be perceived as a person and this statement should be the basic element for anti-abortionists groups.
The description of scientific interference with logic conceptions is clearly interpreted by the author as the only grounded support of popular social arguments. He underlines the role of science for modern generations and stresses human disability to prove phenomena without sticking to it, though he disclosed some hesitations as to science’s position in the current world of logical thinking.
Science no longer holds any absolute truths.
Even the discipline of physics, whose laws once went
unchallenged, has had to submit to the
indignity of the Uncertainty Principle. (Whyte, 41)
The climate of complete disbelief we live in makes no difference between supernatural and natural; according to Whyte’s idea, the principle distinction lies in the identification of the true reason for human belief. The point of absolute truth can be observed throughout the whole book reflected on the basis of scientific studies and laws of nature.
The author observes the fact that in most cases modern authority is perceived by people as real experts of the field they are busy with and knowing nothing about. Whyte highlights the idea that very often crime victims are provided with more weight by state representatives and politicians in the process of criminal law changes assessment.
The manner of the author’s writing is calm and ironical at the same time; Whyte managed to introduce scientific arguments and basic historical events through such literary and stylistic devices as metaphors, hyperbole, and alliteration. A number of similes were used by the author in order to make the book more expressive and emotional; the author demonstrated easy language and strategic sophisticated approaches making the story both understandable and thought-provoking enlarging readers’ personal world.
Conclusion
The book Crimes against Logic appeared to be a treasure of the literature world filled with scientific and stylistic methods and having entertaining characters at the same time.
The main idea of the book was to prove the necessity of logical behavior; Whyte filled the book with a number of examples and arguments interpretations proving logic’s role in human everyday activities. The author managed to prove the promotion of state crimes through the absence of any logical behavior in all the spheres of human activities: politics, religion, medicine, science, and social life. The book is considered to be a real masterpiece and valuable contribution to world literature.
References
Whyte, Jamie. Crimes against Logic: exposing the bogus arguments of politicians, priests, journalists, and other serial offenders. McGraw Hill Professional, pp. 157. 2004.