Word: absurdum
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...Maude is a student of philosophy, and, with a truly Spencerean somersault of logic, he reduces me ad absurdum. The burden of his proof is that "J. N. M." contradicts himself. Think of this! I charge the Brethren with halfness, with not having bravery enough to take a decided stand, either Orthodox or Liberal; with leaving its constitution in such a way that no Unitarian or Universalist can, with self respect, join the society - for such could be members not by virtue of a clean-cut statement of the constitution, but by its "fair" interpretation, which means by twisting...
AMONG recent publications, we feel called upon to notice "An Essay on Human Understanding," by a certain Locke, of England. The book is evidently to be taken as an extravaganza or philosophical romance, and is designed, by a pleasing species of reductio ad absurdum, to ridicule the philosophers who were opposed to Descartes. Locke's method was probably suggested by the "Historic Doubts" of Whately, and his satire is more complete, if possible, than that of the celebrated divine. By fully presenting and amusingly overstating a system of philosophy he completely undermines the edifice he is supposed to be rearing...
...same condition. So, too, even now, cramming is very prevalent. Both these evils are unavoidable in a large college; nor do I see how they can be avoided in a small one. At any rate, the advantages of concentrating educational resources are so great, that it is reductio ad absurdum if the opponents of President Eliot are compelled to maintain that, on the whole, small colleges are better than large...