28 How to Win Every Argument
testing is whether the new theory under examination is con-
sistent with the rest of our theories. At no point can we test any
of them against some known objective truth. After all, even the
theories about what our senses tell us are in the same predica-
ment. It all comes down to saying that science gives us a con-
sistent and useful look at the universe through the ring of a giant
circulus.
You will find it difficult, however, to use the prestige of science
in support of your own use of the circulus. He is too easily spotted
for effective application in argument, being rather less wily than
his big cousin, petitio.
7 have the diamond, so I shall be leader. '
'Why should you get to keep the diamond?'
'Because I'm the leader, stupid.'The more likely your conclusion is to be acceptable for other
reasons, the more likely are you to get away with a circulus in
support of it. When people are already half-disposed to believe
something, they do not examine the supporting arguments as
closely. That said, circulus should be reserved for verbal argu-
ments where memories are short.
'I'm asking you to do this because I respect you. '
'How do I know that you respect me?'
'Would I ask you to do it otherwise?'
(If you want to do it, you'll believe it.)The intelligent reader might suppose that fallacies such as
circulus are too obvious to be more than debating tricks. Surely
they could never seriously distort decisions of state by slipping
through the massed ranks of civil servants, government com-
mittees and the cabinet? Not so. A major policy of Britain's