Choose a quotation from this week’s Introductory comments. Copy out that quotation and provide the page number. Then write a paragraph or two (minimum of 200 words) reflecting on why you chose this quotation. Here are some questions to consider (you do not need to answer each one, just use them to guide your thinking): Why did it stand out to you? How did it agree with or disagree with something you already believe? Did it challenge you to think in new ways? What might be the proper kinds of restraints we need on technological development? This weeks’ fallacy is the fallacy of relative deprivation. It can be thought of as a special case of the straw dog. It normally goes like this: “Yes, this is bad, but look, that is so much worse!” In other words, by saying that “this isn’t as bad as that,” we effectively end discussion about “this.” It minimizes what might be a legitimate issue or legitimate suffering. It was famously used in the Nuremburg trials, as some defendants said, “well, yes, I did do some murdering, but not as much as some other people, so you should be lenient on me!” Logically, however, the fact that some others commit worse crimes does not therefore absolve one of committing a lesser crime.
