Last night I was feeling at a bit of a loss as to what to
blog about for this class when I happened upon a scene from Pirates of the Caribbean that actually
seemed relevant to what we discussed in class.
In the scene, two soldiers humorously argue over whether or not the ship
known as “The Black Pearl” really exists.
One professes to have seen the ship, while the other disputes his
claim. Although I am not sticking
exactly to the dialogue, the argument looks something like this:
P: If you have seen
The Black Pearl, then you have seen a ship with black sails that is crewed by
the damned and captained by a man so evil that hell itself spit him back out.
P: You admit you have
not seen a ship with black sails that is crewed by the damned etc.
C: Therefore you have
not seen The Black Pearl.
This looks to be a pretty good example of modus tollens and, ridiculous as it may
be, it would seem that the soldier makes a good point.
Thanks for an example I didn't have to stare at for 5 minutes trying to decipher!
ReplyDeleteI think this is a really good example because it's simpler and more relatable than some of the examples in the book. So P -> D, ~D, therefore ~P?
ReplyDeleteA very clear example, indeed. It the setting of a pirate's conversation, I believe this argument you have shared is quality support that every one - no matter what background or life-style - inherently knows how to make a good, logical argument!
ReplyDeleteA lovely little exercise, sort of like Pilates of the Caribbean.
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