BACKUP Issue 05: The Thin Edge of the Wedge

ISSUE DATE: APRIL 2018

/CONTRIBUTORS

Editor
Issue Design
Construction MR/MRS E. TLLK [EDITOR, FLOG PUBLICATIONS]

Distribution DAN SCLZ

/CONTENT

Typological Study HERMAN RORSCHACH

Please State your problem ELIZA!
SIMON GLAISTER, IMPORT/EXPORT NZIA
[www.pleasestateyourproblem.com]
The Belle of Cowbell: The Bipolar Therapist from Willow Grove
[ruthzdeming.blogspot.com]

Nine Hard Ones for Multi-Res LONG DONG SILVER, REGISTERED HERALD HRBV
PAUL VAN HERK, REGISTERED ARCHITECT, ARBV
[www.paulvanherk.com/]

The A-OK ALLAN BURROWS

WHAT IS 'THE THIN EDGE OF THE WEDGE'?

/CONTRIBUTORS

DIAGRAM A: A CONSEQUENTIALIST LOGICAL DEVICE

[THE THIN EDGE OF THE WEDGE' IS THE DIFFICULT BEGINNING OF A PROCESS THAT WILL LEAD TO SOMETHING MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT [I.E. A WEDGE UNDER A HEAVY OR UNWIELDY OBJECT] ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE USED TO CONDENSE THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF AN OBJECT INTO A CAMP DESCRIPTOR, THIS IDIOM IS FREQUENTLY USED AS THE 'SLIPPERY SLOPE' FALLACY, TO WHICH YOU MAY ASK 'IS IT PROPER TO TAKE ALARM AT THE FIRST EXPERIMENT ON OUR LIBERTIES?'

TO QUOTE EDMUND BURKE, FROM HIS SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT, 1775. “ ON MOVING HIS RESOLUTIONS FOR CONCILIATION WITH THE COLONIES”
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“IN OTHER COUNTRIES THE PEOPLE JUDGE OF AN ILL PRINCIPLE IN GOVERNMENT ONLY BY AN ACTUAL GRIEVANCE; HERE THEY ANTICIPATE THE EVIL, AND JUDGE OF THE PRESSURE OF THE GRIEVANCE BY THE BADNESS OF THE PRINCIPLE. THEY AUGUR MISGOVERNMENT AT A DISTANCE AND SNUFF THE APPROACH OF TYRANNY IN EVERY TAINTED BREEZE.” - 1

THE PROBLEM WITH LIVING IN THE WORLD'S MOST LIVABLE CITY, AS IT HAS BEEN DECISIVELY PROVED -2, IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT FOILED BY OUR OWN PURITY. RECURRENT MOTIFS, TROPES AND CONSEQUENTIALIST FALLACIES ARE USED TO UNCRITICALLY OBSCURE THE CULTURAL FRINGE AND SADDLE US WITH OUR OWN PROTESTANT GUILT BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF FEARFUL EQUIVOCATIONS.
THE 'SLIPPERY' SLOPE OR CONTINUUM FALLACY WORKS BY ASSUMING A DISCRETE TRANSITION FROM A TO B AND IGNORING THE POSSIBILITY OF A MIDDLE GROUND. FOR EXAMPLE ROMAN EMPIRICAL PHILOSOPHER SEXTUS EMPIRICUS SHOWED IT POSSIBLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT INCEST IS NOT IMMORAL, ON THE GROUNDS THAT 'TOUCHING YOUR MOTHER'S BIG TOE WITH YOUR LITTLE FINGER IS NOT IMMORAL, AND ALL THE REST DIFFERS ONLY BY DEGREE.'"
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EVEN WHEN SPECIFIC FALLACIES ARE NOT COMMONLY USED IN ARCHITECTURE THEY SHOULD BE EXAMINED IN ARCHITECTURE. WE TAKE ARCHITECTURE TO BE THE PROFESSIONALISATION OF DENIAL. WE CREATE PRISTINE ENVELOPES. LIGHT AND SERVICES ARE MEANT TO APPEAR AS IF THEY ARE COMING FROM THE ARCHITECTURE AS SOME KIND OF TRANSCENDENTAL TRANSFORMATION LIKE THE COMMUNION WINE.
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THE DIFFICULTY WITH LOGICAL FALLACIES IS NOT ONLY THAT THEY ARE AGAINST THE COMMANDMENTS OF RATIONAL DEBATE BUT THEY OBSCURE THAT GRAY AREA THAT HOLDS ALL THE POTENTIALS OF PURGATORY.
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THE THIN EDGE OF THE WEDGE IS A UNIQUE FALLACY EVEN WHEN IT IS CLUMSY, BECAUSE IT REVEALS HOW WE APPORTION THE WORLD, AND WHAT WE ARE MOST FEARFUL OF.
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IT IS THE CLOSEST WE WILL COME TO A DISCUSSION OF THE OCCUPANTS OF THE MARGINS, VARYING BY SO MANY DEGREES TOWARDS CHAOS. IT CAN REVEAL ACTIONS THAT HAVE PROCLIVITIES TOWARDS BOTH GRACE AND SIN. IT IS A WAY TO CHALLENGE THE PRICE OF PROGRESS. IT IS A SERIES OF PERMISSIONS WHICH CUSTOMARILY WOULD BE DENIED.]
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love, and friendly regards
-mr/mrs eel tllk [editor of flog publications]

DIAGRAM B: COMMON USES OF 'THE THIN EDGE OF THE WEDGE' IN CURRENT PUBLIC DISCOURSE
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See related analogies for comparison:
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...../boiling frog
...../camel's nose
...../domino effect
...../oot in the door
...../overton window
...../parade of horribles
...../slipperyslope

sources:

1. Speech of Edmund Burke, esq., on moving his resolutions for conciliation with the colonies, March 22, 1775
[http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/007654179]
2. "Melbourne named world's most liveable city for seventh year', S.C. Roden, 08.2016
[www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-16/melbourne-named-worlds-most-liveable-city-for-seventh-year