Two Lectures on the Constitution of the United States: Concluding a Course on the Modern State, Delivered in the Law School of Colombia College, ... Address on Secession Written in the Year 1851

Excerpt from Two Lectures on the Constitution of the United States

The difference between the attenuated logic of special pleading, drawn like wire through the draw-plate of technical terms, in order to make out a case, on the one hand, and a comprehensive search after truth and loyal adhesion to it when found, becomes more distinct and more important as the sphere of action is more extended or the region of argument higher. It is a rule of fallacy  and fallacy has its rules, too  to seize upon one point, one term, to narrow down the meaning even of this one point, and then keenly to syllogize from that single starting point, irrespective of all other modifying and tributary truths or considerations. Wherever you find it, be at once on your guard  whether the discussion relates to religion, philoso phy, to law, politics, or economy, to science, or to interpreting a document, a treaty of nations, or the last will of an individ ual. The search after truth may be symbolized by the soaring eagle rising to the regions of light in order to view things from above, and not by the perforating gimlet, which alone would be no useful tool.