| Smoke |
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| When something is burnt and
the combustion is not complete, this produces a gas that
we call smoke. Smoke is the result of the incomplete combustion
of waste. Combustion generates so much energy that it
is used to power machinery, such as factories and cars,
and that is why they produce smoke or exhaust. The industrial
societies of today generate polluting smoke that creates
imbalances in the atmosphere with harmful effects for
all living organisms as well as buildings and other inanimate
matter. |
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| Detecting fallacies. Fallacies are arguments
that appear to be correct but that, when we analyse them closely,
prove to be wrong. The most common errors of fallacious arguments
are: committing an error in logic, supporting a conclusion with
reasons that are not pertinent to establishing the truth of that
conclusion, and using ambiguous terms. |
| Consider the following arguments and say whether
they are correct or not. If they are incorrect, what error do they
commit?: |
| 1. |
Smoking can’t be so bad for your health
because my doctor smokes. |
| 2. |
The smoke from the paper mill must not be so
toxic, since it is permitted by law. |
| 3. |
There’s been a lot of smoke in the
mountains since summer began. It must be that summer is
the cause of the smoke. |
| 4. |
Whenever there’s a forest fire, there’s
smoke. So, if there’s smoke on that mountain now,
there must be a forest fire. |
| 5. |
The exhaust from the motor of my car doesn’t
pollute because my car is always very clean. |
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| Painting. David
Teniers the Younger, 1610-1690. Smokers. |
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| Comment on the
meaning of the expression: "Where there’s smoke
there’s fire." |
|
| Exercise. Think
about smoke, in Wondering at the World, 9.3.3 |
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| © Grup IREF 2003, with the support of the European Commission, DG XXII (Socrates/Comenius 3.2) |
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