Turning to Aristotle's second division, we note the following cases of

'non -verbal' fallacy:

The fallacy of double question.  The standard example of this is

the question: 'How long is it since you left off beating your wife?'  Many a

person who objects that he has not received a 'straight answer' to his

question, has really fallen into this fallacy.  For example, one who is

ignorant of the fact that we distinguish between the phase of the hope which

is taught in 1 Thessalonians 4 and that which is taught in Colossians 3 may

be surprised that we cannot return a 'straight answer' regarding 'the

rapture' and other related subjects.  To require a plain 'Yes' or 'No' for an

answer, may often be an unjust demand.

The fallacy accidentis.  This fallacy consists in obtaining

assent to a statement with a qualification, and then proceeding to argue as

if no qualification had been made, and vice versa.  A common example of this

fallacy is the use of the statement that 'the letter killeth'.  This being

agreed, the argument proceeds to discountenance all verbal study, use of

concordances, study of grammar, etc., a conclusion which is entirely false.

The fallacy called non -sequitur.  When reviewing the pamphlet on

Conditional Immortality on page 377, we drew attention to the prejudice

introduced in the opening paragraph:

'It is a remarkable fact that with the advancement of the Darwinian

Theory of Evolution the doctrine of annihilation became popular'.

It may be a fact that these two doctrines advanced together, but what

is not a fact is that the one grew out of or was caused by the other.  The

mind of the reader, however, is intentionally led to assume that such is the

case.  Many other things, some good, some bad, became popular at the same

time, but only some of them were related as cause and effect.  We must,

therefore, be on our guard, lest we allow our minds to be persuaded that

because two events are stated in sequence, they are necessarily related as

cause and effect.

Shakespeare puts into Hotspur's mouth a sound refutation of this type

of fallacy:

Glendower.  'At my nativity,

The front of heaven was full of fiery shapes,

Of burning cressets; and, at my birth,

The frame and huge foundation of the earth

Shaked like a coward'

Hotspur.  'Why, so it would have done at the same season, if your mother's

cat had but kittened, though yourself had never been born' (Henry IV, Part 1,

Act 3, Scene 1).

Many superstitions, faith in certain remedies, and other common beliefs

are examples of this false type of reasoning.

The fallacy called petitio principii (or surreptitious

assumption).  The common name for this form of fallacy is 'begging the

question'.  One can easily fall into it, as for example: 'If one should

attempt to prove the being of God from the authority of Holy Writ' (Whately).