Journal 5- Thomas Paine

Journal #5 – from Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” (p.95-6)

1. Identify the specific argument that Paine is making in each paragraph. For each of the arguments, identify whether Paine is making an emotional, ethical, or logical appeal and suggest an effective counterargument.


#1 Argument-
Appeal- Emotional and Logical
Counter- Americans owe England because without them we wouldn’t be a country. We can’t assume Americans will win.





#2 Argument- “God Almighty will not give up a people to military destruction, or leave them unsupportedly to perish, who have so earnestly and so..” (God won’t let us lose)
Appeal- Ethical
Counter- There’s no proof that God will support them
Logical fallacies- begging the question





#3 Argument- If we don’t fight them now ourselves, our children will be the ones forced to sacrifice their lives to fight later.
Appeal- Emotional and Logical
Counter- If we wait, things will work themselves out and no one will need to fight.






#4
Argument- The king is like a thief breaking into your house which is a reason to fight.
Appeal- Emotional
Counter- The king and thief is not an affective analogy because it’s his property. He owned the colonies and allowed the groups to live there. He has legal rights to the colony.




2. Can you identify any of the logical fallacies that we discussed in Paine’s arguments? If so, which ones? Overall, what do you feel are the strengths and weaknesses of Paine’s arguments?
Faulty Analogy, Begging the Question

Paine is very persuasive in using emotional appeal. However his logic and facts are either false or exaggerated. He uses faulty analogy repeatedly in this writing.