Evaluating Truth and Validity Exercise

All religious authorities are concerned about the dangers of nuclear war. All politicians are concerned about the dangers of nuclear war. Therefore, all politicians are religious authorities. The above statement is false and creates conclusions based on fallacies. It generalizes all political and religious leaders into one group and assumes that they all think the same. It also does not take into account the many varying religious ways of thought and forms of political leadership within the world. This is a case of over simplifying something that is not simple. It would be better worded as follows: Nuclear war is a very real concern amongst many of our religious and political leaders. Though the ideas behind what qualifies as and why nuclear war is a concern may be different, the end state of nuclear war is what concerns most though there are some extremist religions and political factions would like nothing more than to incite a nuclear war and are trying desperately to acquire nuclear weapons. I was able to identify most of the errors by playing the devil’s advocate as it were. This ability gives one an objective perspective and allows them to see the errors in their ways of thought. Beginning the statement with the word “All” is one that should be avoided. Many things you or I consider common sense might not be the same to someone else. This takes away the ability to accurately generalize. With a topic as ambiguous as this it would be hard to make many close ended statements because of the varying schools of thought. However you cannot argue that nuclear war is a very real concern amongst many of our religious and political leaders. Nothing was stated to determine that every leader thinks the same.

Nuclear power is a threat to world peace. Nuclear energy stations generate nuclear power. So nuclear energy stations are a threat to world peace. Again this statement is worded in such that it is false from some perspectives. Nuclear power in itself is merely are form of energy. The applications in which that energy is used is the primary concern. Our sun is an example of nuclear energy and is a requirement to sustaining life on our plant, which is the opposite of a threat to world peace. It would be better worded as follows: Nuclear power is an incredible force with both the ability to generate enormous amounts of energy, or devastation. If used in the wrong applications it can be a threat whereas if used responsibly and with respect can be used to help mankind. This accepts both the good and the bad that a nuclear power can attract but states it in a way where both are possible. Nuclear weapons can be considered a threat to world peace by some, where others may think of them as a means to world peace. Nuclear power stations are considered dangerous by some, where science shows nuclear energy as one of the cleanest, most efficient ways of producing mass amounts of electricity. Again, a very ambiguous topic. I do not know why I picked two of them on nuclear power I just saw the glaring inadequacies in each statement.

Power must be evil because it can corrupt people. Nothing must be unless you are speaking in terms laws of physics or some mathematical constant. In life we have nothing but choices and the ability to change our path. To say that power must be evil because of what it can do is a false statement. Think of all the great people who had complete power. Gandhi was considered one of the most influential people of all time, which I am considering what the statement means by power, and he used nothing but nonviolent means of protest and demonstration to accomplish great things for millions of people. A more accurate statement would be: Power has the ability to be great or evil depending on he who wields it. This shows both sides of what power can accomplish depending on the individual. Power in itself is nothing without someone at the helm. The errors effecting the truth in the original statement is that it shows only one side. It is a narrow minded sentiment. It does not show the whole picture of what power could be. This is over simplifying and has irrational appeal. Power is given such a negative connotation in many movies, novels, or highlighted mistakes though history that the positive instances of power are overlooked. This is a false generalization.

References
Ruggiero, V. R. (2012). The Art of Thinking: A Guide to Critical and Creative Thought (10th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection Database.