Our modern society has rediscovered that most Ancient and Effective form of persuasion described herein:
But the most notable way of managing a Controversy, is that which we may call Arguing by Torture. This is a Method of Reasoning which has been made use of with the poor Refugees, and which was so fashionable in our Country during the Reign of Queen Mary, that in a Passage of an Author quoted by Monsieur Bayle [8] it is said the Price of Wood was raised in England, by reason of the Executions that were made in Smithfield. These Disputants convince their Adversaries with a Sorites, [9] commonly called a Pile of Faggots. The Rack is also a kind of Syllogism which has been used with good Effect, and has made Multitudes of Converts.
My blog software informs me that I’ve used the Addison quote as a post title twice before.
ratio ultima regum
Yes. Now checking out “Cato, A Tragedy” by him.
http://oll.libertyfund.org/?option=com_staticxt&staticfile=show.php%3Ftitle=1229&Itemid=27
Our modern society has rediscovered that most Ancient and Effective form of persuasion described herein: