Only Fools Rush In...

Only Fools Rush In To Make Conclusion Without First Use Their Brain

All aboard the illogical train

SKEWED LOGIC: Relevance of proof can be manipulated to justify even the most absurd claims

THERE was once a man who told everyone who cared to listen that he could understand the language of animals and insects, and that the country was in danger of a locust attack if he was not made king.

He said the insects, who felt neglected, were angry that a wise man like him was not made king of the country, so the locusts were planning to swarm the country to install him as king.

A fine orator, the man soon got quite a large following among his countrymen and those who were loyal to the king told him about the man's prophecy.

He was summoned to the palace to explain himself, for the king was worried that if what he said was true, the people will suffer if he continues to rule the country.

The king was impressed when he came with thousands of followers and he asked the man to explain how he was able to convince so many people.

He told the king that he proved his knowledge of the insect language by letting them know a secret; that cockroaches hear with their legs and flies hear with their wings.

When told to prove the secret, the man asked for a pair of cockroaches and a pair of flies.

He held the first fly in his fist and said "Fly' before opening his palm. The fly flew away the minute it was free from the man's fist.

Next he cut off the wings of the second fly before telling it to fly. The insect just crept on the floor.

With the cockroaches, he told the first one to run and cut off the legs of the second one before telling it to do the same. The second cockroach just wriggled on the floor, unable to move.

"See your highness, the first fly heard what I said through its wings and flew away while the second one could not hear me and did not do so.

"The first cockroach heard me through its legs and ran away but the second one is still here, unable to hear my instruction as I had cut off its legs," the man said proudly and his followers, who had seen the demonstration hundreds of times, cheered loudly.

The wise king clapped his hands and ordered the man to step forward.

The man was thrilled for he thought that the king will abdicate and let him rule the country after seeing the demonstration.

However, when he was halfway across the hall from the throne, the king ordered his guards to arrest the man and tie him up tightly with a rope.

He protested loudly that a man of wisdom like him should not be treated that way.

"Please tell us why did you walk towards the throne and I will explain my action," the king said.

"I heard you ordering me to do so, your highness. It was your own order!," he said.

The king chuckled and repeated his order for the man to walk towards the throne.

"How could I do so with my legs tied up like this, your highness?," he asked, bewildered by the king's absurd demand.

"But just moments ago you expected us to believe that the cockroach did not run away because it could not hear your order when it was clear that it could not do so without its legs," chided the king.

This story is just an illustration of how the process of proving something can be skewed if we are not careful in checking the relevance of the said proof with the question at hand.

The story came to mind after hearing one  opposition leader after another touting the alleged ease of removing the indelible ink used in the 13th General Election (GE13) as proof of fraudulent practices in the election during the Blackout 505 rally in Kuala Ibai last week.

Maybe the ink was not good enough but if that was the case, it only points to the fact that a better ink should be used in the next election, if we still want to use it as a means to curb fraudulent practices.
It certainly did not prove there were fraudulent practices.

If that's the way things are proven, then I must soon fix the CCTV I installed months ago.

It was installed to prevent thefts, and now that it is broken, I am afraid someone might say that the broken CCTV was proof that a theft had indeed been committed.

Illogical? Well, it seems that more illogical things may be touted as the truth when a certain man has his eyes on the throne despite losing in GE13.

Read more: All aboard the illogical train - Columnist - New Straits Times