What might a tutor read casually?  Here’s the latest.

Although I have a degree in math, I’ve been told that “logic” and math are different. Logic, it seems, is more often claimed by English and philosophy students.  So be it.

Today I pulled my Harbrace Handbook for Canadians off the shelf, simply because I haven’t looked in it for a while.  I opened it to a random page and got schooled on a new concept: equivocation.

While equivocation has other meanings, the topic I landed at was logical fallacies. In that context, equivocation is the assumption that when one meaning of a word applies, its other meaning does as well. Here’s an equivocation:

All you’ll find in the trash is trash.

Given society’s fascination with abandoned articles and what treasures might be found among them, we can probably agree that All you’ll find in the trash is trash is not necessarily true.

What makes All you’ll find in the trash is trash an equivocation is that trash has two meanings:

1)  Trash comprises articles that people throw away.

2)  Trash comprises articles that have no value.

Both meanings don’t have to apply simultaneously; we’ve all heard of valuable items being found amongst trash.  Furthermore, what seems valueless to one person might be prized by someone else.

The point Harbrace makes:  A student should take care not to use such an argument in an essay; the reward will likely be red ink.

HTH:)

Source:

Hodges, Horner, et al.  Harbrace Handbook for Canadians.  Scarborough:  Nelson        Education Ltd., 2003.

Jack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane, Campbell River, BC.