Definition and Examples of Non Sequiturs

Definition and Examples of Non Sequiturs Definition A non sequitur is a  fallacy in which a conclusion does not follow logically from what preceded it. Also known as  irrelevant reason and fallacy of the consequent. As illustrated below, non sequiturs are the products of many different kinds of errors in reasoning, including begging the question, false dilemma, ad hominem, the appeal to ignorance, and the straw man argument. Indeed, as  Steve Hindes observes in Think for Yourself  (2005), A  non sequitur  is any pretended jump in  logic  that doesnt work cleanly, perhaps because of unfounded  premises, unmentioned complicating factors, or alternative explanations, such as This war is righteous because we are French! or You will do what I say because you are my wife! The Latin expression non sequitur means it does not follow. Pronunciation: non SEK-wi-terr Examples and Observations We realize that it would be in the best interest of the community and our children to address the issue expeditiously. In order to make this happen, I respectfully request an eight-month payment delay calling for payment of the $10 million obligation on August 31, 2015.(Savannah City Manager Stephanie Cutter in a letter to the citys superintendent of schools; reported in the Savannah Morning News, April 3, 2014)Warming was caused by sunspots, or fluctuations in the Earths orbit, or volcanic eruptions. Therefore it cannot be caused by mankind. The therefore is the giveaway, the delicious non sequitur: just because Earth has warmed for one or another reason in the past is no reason why it cannot warm for a completely different reason in the future.(John Llewellyn, In a Confusing Climate. The Observer, September 2, 2007)A Philosophers Non SequiturImmanuel Kant, considered by many to be the greatest philosopher of the modern period, would manage to let slip what is surely the greatest no n-sequitur in the history of philosophy: describing a report of something seemingly intelligent that had once been said by an African, Kant dismisses it on the grounds that this fellow was quite black from head to toe, a clear proof that what he said was stupid.(Justin E.H. Smith, The Enlightenments Race Problem, and Ours. The New York Times, February 10, 2013) Obvious Non SequitursNon sequiturs are most obvious when absurd. For instance, from the facts that most cats like milk and some cats have tails I could not derive the conclusion that David Hume was the greatest British philosopher. That would be a complete non sequitur that borders on the surreal, whether or not its conclusion is true. Non sequiturs are often advertised by the spurious use of so and therefore..., but the context of a statement can also suggest that it is a conclusion derived from what has gone before even when there is no such word used to indicate it.Any formal fallacy will have a non sequitur as its conclusion, though most of these non sequiturs will be less obvious than the one above.(Nigel Warburton, Thinking from A to Z. Routledge, 1996)Non Sequiturs in NewspapersNon sequiturs are most often encountered in newspapers, where constructions such as the following are common: Slim, of medium height, and with sharp features, Mr. Smiths technical skills are combined wi th strong leadership qualities (New York Times). What, we might ask, do Mr. Smiths height and features have to do with his leadership qualities?†(Bill Bryson, Brysons Dictionary of Troublesome Words: A Writers Guide to Getting It Right. Anchor, 2002) The Post Hoc and the Non SequiturThe difference between the post hoc and the non sequitur fallacies is that, whereas the post hoc fallacy is due to lack of a causal connection, in the non sequitur fallacy, the error is due to lack of a logical connection.(Mabel Lewis Sahakian, Ideas of the Great Philosophers. Barnes Noble, 1993)On the Lighter Side: Ralph Wiggums Non SequitursRalph Wiggum: Um, Miss Hoover? Theres a dog in the vent.Miss Hoover: Ralph, remember the time you said Snagglepuss was outside?Ralph Wiggum: He was going to the bathroom.(Sweet Seymour Skinners Baadasssss Song, The Simpsons)Ralph Wiggum: Martin Luther King had a dream. Dreams are where Elmo and Toy Story had a party and I was invited. Yay! My turn is over!Principal Skinner: One of your best, Ralphie.(The Color Yellow, The Simpsons, 2010)

Social Security 2100 Act

Social Security 2100 Act Potential Social Security Reforms on the Horizon Recently Congressman John Larson of Connecticut reintroduced a bill to increase Social Security benefits in the future. The Social Security 2100 Act would expand Social Security benefits, while extending future program solvency. There are both proponents and critics of the bill. Let’s take a closer look, and explore how this could impact Social Security Disability benefits.A Problem of SolvencyOne of the most pressing concerns regarding Social Security is ongoing solvency, as the cost of the program is growing faster than workers’ earnings can support. With Americans now living longer, they now collect benefits over a larger portion of their lives. At the same time, a lower birthrate in the U.S. means fewer workers are paying into the system.According to Social Security trustees, repairing the current shortfall would require an increase in the payroll tax rate from 12.4% to 15.2% on all workers. Other solutions indicate a 21% across-the-board decrease in benefits for al l future claimants. Even so, these measures may not be sufficient to sustain the program past 2034- the year Social Security experts predict insolvency.The Larson PlanThe bill would raise payroll taxes for employers and employees by 1.2% over 24 years. It would also cut income taxes on Social Security benefits, raising the income threshold at which benefits would be taxed. According to Larson, some 12 million of Social Securitys more than 63 million total beneficiaries would receive a tax cut.It would also subject any earnings in excess of $400,000 to Social Security payroll taxes. Currently, Social Security taxes only apply to a wage earners first $132,900 of income. Income between $132,900 and $400,000 is not taxed. Over time, the bill would eliminate the cap, subjecting all earnings to tax.Bill supporters believe that lifting the cap on income subject to payroll taxes and raising tax rates could finance generous benefit and cost-of-living adjustments and help ensure program solve ncy for more than 75 years, while reducing income taxes on benefits and closing Social Security’s long-term funding gap.However, critics are concerned the bill would worsen income losses for younger workers by expanding benefits and costs faster than current law allows. They also suggest that the increase in payroll taxes could hurt workers with lower incomes.Another main concern surrounding the Larson bill is a provision to merge the disability insurance trust fund with the retirement trust fund. Under the current policy agreement, the Social Security Disability benefits program  is not allowed to divert funds from the Social Security retirement program.We Can HelpIf you are disabled and unable to work, call Disability Attorneys of Michigan for a free confidential consultation. We’ll let you know if we can help you get a monthly check and help you determine if any money or assets you receive could impact your eligibility for disability benefits.Disability Attorneys of Michigan works hard every day helping the disabled of Michigan seek the Social Security Disability benefits they need. If you are unable to work due to a physical, mental, or cognitive impairment; call Disability Attorneys of Michigan now for a free consultation at 800-949- 2900.Let Michigan’s experienced Social Security Disability law firm help you get the benefits you deserve.Disability Attorneys of Michigan, Compassionate Excellence. Michigan Social Security Disability Lawyer, Social Security 2100 Act, Social Security Reform

An analysis of the film Fight Club essays

An analysis of the film Fight Club essays For years, David Fincher has been turning out some of the most stylish and inventive thrillers to ever hit the American screens. In spite of critical and public backlash, his Alien 3 remains the most technically interesting of that series, and Seven stands as the suspense film upon which all other modern suspense films are based. With The Game, he proved himself more than a one-movie wonder and emerged as one of the most original filmmakers working in Hollywood. His new film, Fight Club, however, is his most challenging piece of work. It is a film that demands that its viewers look past what's on the surface and find something deeper. Fight Club is a multi-layered film with many subplots and multiple themes. Fincher delves into such topics as consumerism, the feminization of society, manipulation, cultism, fascism, and even the psychosemantics of the human id and ego. Primarily, it is a film that surrealistically describes the status of the American male at the end of the 20th century: disenchanted, unfulfilled, castrated and looking for a way out. It depicts how consumerist males have been emasculated by their modern life styles, by a feminized consumer culture that places more worth on nice furniture and nice wardrobe than masculine values like power and strength. The central character in the film, who remains nameless and who is played by Edward Norton, is very much like Lester Burnham of American Beauty. He is trapped in the corporate world and finds himself increasingly dissatisfied with the fruits it is supposed to deliver. Norton's character leads an unfulfilled and aimless life. Rather than masturbating as an outlet, he buys furniture from IKEA. It is by no chance that our Narrator is not given a name: he is the Everyman of the 90s, "a slave to the IKEA nesting instinct" (Fight Club) with an apartment that owns him more than he owns it. He also suffers from insomnia for which the only cure seems to come in the form...

Christology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Christology - Essay Example Acts 2:32-32 says, â€Å"This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear†. Some other instances where this resurrection is the central theme are Acts 3:13-18; 4:10-12; 5:29-32; 10:37-43, and so on. Similarly, one can find this resurrection as the main theme in the Epistles. To illustrate, in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul provides a number of reasons why this resurrection is the basis of Christian faith. When some people in Corinth fail to believe in the resurrection of the dead, Paul explains the various dire consequences in the absence of resurrection. First, the act of preaching Christ will be futile, and hence, even faith in Christ will be useless. If Jesus were not resurrected from the dead, no one would be redeemed from sin as promised. That means all the preachers would be liars and Christians would be come a pitiable lot on the earth. Thus, one can see that it is this resurrection which gave the disciples enough courage and faith in what they preached. Secondly, the late 60s AD witnessed persecution of Christians by the Nero-led Roman government. In 62 AD, both Peter and Paul were executed, and this persecution continued till the early 4th century. In order to make the early Christians face the cruelties boldly, and to sacrifice their own life for this great cause, Jesus’ success over death acted as a catalyst (Vinzent 143). With this spirit, Romans 12:1 says, â€Å"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship†. Moreover, the Old Testament is full of prophesy about the resurrection, and for those who believed in Scriptures, the saviour is the one who would win over death. To illustrate, Hosea 5:15 reads, â€Å"I will go and return to my place, till they

Creating your own monetary policy Research Paper

Creating your own monetary policy - Research Paper Example The discount rate refers to the amount of interest that the Federal Reserve charges to commercial banks and other financial depository institutions for the various loans that they acquire from the discount window of the Federal Reserve. The reserve requirements can also be referred to as the reserve cash ratio. This is a requirement that banking institutions need to deposit a certain amount of money to the Federal Reserve against the various deposits that is made by their respective customers. Open markets operations on the other hand involve the processes of the country’s central bank to sale and buy government bonds in an open market (Orphanides and Volker, 27). The main aim of using this tool as a monetary policy is to manipulate the supply base of money within an economy, and the short term interest rates, for purposes of controlling the nature and level of money supply within an economy. This paper develops a monetary policy that differs from the last policy statement iss ue by the FOMC. The last policy statement by FOMC was released on 30th of October 2013. Under this policy statement, FOMC denotes that it will continue with its asset purchasing programs. This is because the committee had noted that the policy gained efficiency in improving the economic activities of the United States of America. The committee also has plans to adjust the pace of its asset purchases, but it is still waiting for a report on the levels of progress that the current pace in asset purchasing has an influence in the American economy (Press Releas, 2). According to this policy statement, FOMC made a decision to continue with the purchase of additional mortgages that are backed with securities. This is at a price of $ 40 billion every month. The FOMC also decided to buy long term financial securities at an amount of $ 45 billion every month. Under this policy statement, the FOMC decided to maintain its policies of re-investing principal payments (Press Release, nd. 3). Thes e principal payments emanate from its various holdings of the agency debts and mortgage backed securities. The FOMC also decided to sale matured treasury securities through an auction method. By implementing these policies, the FOMC believes that they would manage to maintain and achieve a down ward pressure on long-term interest rates. The FOMC also believes that they will manage to support the mortgage market, helping to create a broad financial condition that is more accommodative to the various economic and financial interests within an economy. On this note therefore, the FOMC decided to continue with its purchases of mortgage backed securities. This will in turn lead to the growth and development of the economy under consideration. For effective implementation of these policies, the FOMC decided to closely monitor all information concerning the financial and economic development of the country. The monetary policies identified by FOMC do not solve the problem of liquidity. Liq uidity is a Macro economics issue that refers to the extent in which a security or an asset can be sold or bought without having an effect on the price of the particular asset. One major characteristic of liquidity is the high number of trading that the asset under consideration attracts. Examples of assets which are highly liquid include securities of money market. During the 2007 credit crunch, it was very difficult for people to access funds such as loans (Orphanides and Volker, 33). Due to the difficulties of accessing credit, then

Persuasive Message Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Persuasive Message - Coursework Example Money should not be the only determining factor when you are faced with a tough decision about the welfare of your beloved pet. That’s why we would like to call your attention to the possibility of purchasing a pet insurance policy. Most insurance policies do not cover routine office visits or shots, but they can cover more than half of the total cost should [Fluffy] require any type of major procedure. Having a pet insurance policy means you can make decisions based on the welfare of your pet rather than the restrictions of the cost. Many clients have asked which policy Dr. Munson recommends. Although she does not have any financial interests in any pet insurance provider, there are three that stand out as having had good track records with our office: Whether you use one of these plans or another, we hope you will consider obtaining insurance for your pet. While we all hope [Fluffy] will never need extensive medical care, better decisions can be made for [his] welfare if you have prepared in advance. As always, you can call the office any time you have concerns or

Coyote and Geronimo Accounts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Coyote and Geronimo Accounts - Essay Example Coyote caused the buffalo to result in a stampede and escaped via rear fence to his people’s advantage (Welker). Conversely, Geronimo was a peaceful Indian prior Mexican soldier invaded their camp while they had traveled to trade in the Old Mexico. They terminated their people were among them was his family and a mother beside looting. This brewed hatred that prompted him to take revenge against his adversaries, for almost a decade. Protagonists Coyote and Geronimo despite emanating from different accounts bear comparable traits that are evident in their unfolding events. Coyote and Geronimo depict determination that is evident in their actions. Coyote after summoning the people and brainstorming how they will attain the buffalo, he volunteers to undertake the mission but fails on the initial occasion. This did not demoralize him where he tried the second instance as a dog and succeeded in  accessing the homestead to chase the buffalo out. Similarly, Geronimo’s determination is evident when after finding that Mexican soldiers have terminated his family, he joined Apache and led his followers to avenge themselves on Mexicans (Native American Legends). Coyote and Geronimo, their heroic actions illustrate strong leadership skills. Coyote summoned his followers after fours days to brainstorm how to get the buffalo from Humpback. The followers lacked any idea, but he devised excellent tactics as a leader, which he contemplated would be successful and even choosing to undertake it. Likewise, Geronimo due to the hatred that resulted from having his family and people terminated, choose to spur hundreds of Apaches for revenge (Cantley 54). Coyote in his actions depicted trickery, contrary to his counterpart Geronimo in his mission.