Word: argumentative
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Dates: during 1900-1909
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...first argument, a thing half done might as well not be done at all. There is as good reason for employing a paid coach in athletic sports as there is in employing a paid tutor to teach the conjugation of Greek verbs,--provided we want athletic sports at all, which is assumed. If athletics are to be maintained, they ought to be properly guided and directed. They cannot be properly guided and directed by the chance and fluctuating interest of graduate coaches, much as we may owe to them. A responsible head is needed in directing the training...
...English attitude of "sport for sport's sake," American college athletes have not degraded but have elevated athletics, turning them to a moral discipline which study or mere play fails to afford. He is remarkably candid in admitting the moral evils in the present condition of football; but his argument fails to convince the reviewer mainly because it ignores the contrast between the widespread demoralization caused by the admitted evils and the narrow scope of the advantages, limited as they are to the handful of men who play in the great games. An editorial on the same theme supports...
After a brief review of the subject matter of his previous lectures Mr. Mallock refuted the argument of popular socialism, which states that the many are omnipotent and the few of little or no importance. Although fully realizing the great powers of the majority in many instances, he showed that the powers of the minority were equally potent. This doctrine is proved in legislation, for the majority cannot decide to have things which the minority will not have. Hence the powers of the many are limited to a large extent, and legislation is perforce confined to certain channels...
...great argument against socialism is that the propensities of the many give rise to legislation, but they are far from originating legislation, in which the assumptions of the majority have to coincide to some extent with the opinions of the minority. The same is true in regard to the economic powers of labor, which have in most cases been greatly exaggerated, as is shown by the frequent weakness of strikes. Socialism, concluded Mr. Mallock, in endeavoring to redivide the product would prevent the product from being produced...
...third argument goes to show that the real achievements of genius are merely due to the development of the past generations and not to any especial skill of the individual. The fourth statement closely resembled the third, alleging that inventions, due to the development of the times and not to genius, were due the country at large, and not individuals. The fallacy of these last two statements is easily seen, when it is considered how many men there were in Shakespeare's time, who enjoyed the same conditions under which he worked, but how few real Shakespeares there were...