Can you outsmart the fallacy that divided a nation? - Elizabeth Cox

譯者: Regina Chu 審譯者: Yi-Ping Cho (Marssi)

What, you want my milkshake? Here.

什麼？你要我的奶昔？拿去！

“It’s 1819.

1819 年

As the United States Congress prepares to make Missouri

美國國會準備要將密蘇里

the 24th state in the Union,

納為聯邦的第 24 個州

Representative James Tallmage Jr. delivers a speech.

眾議員詹姆士．塔梅奇二世 發表了一場演說

He says slavery is morally wrong,

他說奴隸制在道德上是錯誤的

calling it an ‘abomination’ and a ‘monstrous scourge.’

並稱之為「可憎」和「可怕的禍害」

He insists that ‘the extension of the evil must now be prevented,’

他堅持「現在一定要阻止邪惡延續」

and that slavery shouldn’t be allowed in Missouri, or any new state.”

密蘇里或任何新成立的州 都應該禁止蓄奴

Obviously.

這還用說嗎？

“Representative Tyler disagrees.

眾議員泰勒不同意

He believes it is a state’s right to choose whether or not to allow slavery.

他認為是否允許蓄奴是各州的權利

He doesn’t think the federal government can prohibit slavery

他不認為聯邦政府

有權禁止新成立的州蓄奴

in any newly added states.”

Whaaaaat?

什麼？！！！

“Senator Thomas proposes what he sees as a compromise:

參議員湯瑪士提出一個 他認為是妥協的方案

Missouri will join the union along with another state, Maine.

密蘇里會與另一個州—— 緬因，一同加入聯邦

Slavery will be allowed in Missouri and prohibited in Maine.

密蘇里可以蓄奴，但緬因州不可以

He also suggests drawing a line through territories yet to become states:

他同時建議在尚未立州的 領土上畫一條線

slavery will be prohibited north of the line, and allowed south of it.”

線的北方不准蓄奴，但是南方可以

And this is where I have to draw the line.

換我要劃清界線了！

That’s better.

這樣好多了

Now, senators, congressmen,

參議員，眾議員

this Missouri compromise you are proposing is fundamentally flawed—

你們提議的這個密蘇里妥協方案 存在根本上的缺陷

flawed is putting it mildly.

說有缺陷還算好聽

The compromise is based on the middle ground fallacy.

這個妥協是基於中間立場謬誤

By saying that half of the new territories should allow slavery

藉著說一半的新領土准許蓄奴

while half prohibit it,

另一半卻禁止的這個說法

you position the two viewpoints, pro-slavery and anti-slavery,

你把支持蓄奴及反對蓄奴這兩個觀點

as equally valid.

視為同樣正當合法

But if one view is wrong, while the other is right,

但是如果一個觀點是錯誤的 而另一個觀點是正確的

a compromise between them is still wrong.

兩者間的妥協還是錯的

And one side is definitely wrong here: the pro-slavery side.

這裡有一方絕對是錯的： 支持奴隸制的一方

The whole reason this government exists,

這個政府之所以存在的全部理由

the whole reason states exist at all, is to serve the people.

聯邦之所以存在的全部理由 就是要服務人民

That should include all people.

這應該包括所有人種

Now, I know there are those among you who would argue otherwise,

現在，我知道你們有些人會對此爭論

even among those in favor of ending slavery.

甚至是贊成終結奴隸制的人 也會加入戰局

In response to your many contorted arguments, all of them wrong,

為了回應你們全都是錯的扭曲論點

I offer this reminder:

我提醒大家

the idea that slavery is morally indefensible is not new to you.

奴隸制在道德上站不住腳 對大家來說並不是新的想法

The founders of your country knew it and many even acknowledged it publicly,

你們的國父對此非常清楚 有許多位甚至公開承認其錯誤

even those of them who enslaved other people themselves.

即使是本身有蓄奴的 幾位開國元勛也這麼說

It’s clear that the errors and delusions on this subject

關於這個問題的錯誤及幻想

go far beyond the middle ground fallacy,

很明顯遠遠大過中間立場謬論

but I call your attention to this particular fallacy

但是我要特別提醒大家注意這個謬論

because it can have dire consequences in many situations.

因為它會在很多情況下 造成可怕的後果

Failure to recognize the fact that a compromise between two positions,

未能認清這個事實 而在兩種立場之間選擇妥協

one of which is morally indefensible, is also morally indefensible,

要是其中之一在道德上站不住腳 其妥協在道德上也是站不住腳

has helped to perpetuate countless injustices large and small.

妥協就會助長永無止息的大小冤屈

Even well-intentioned people— which rest assured,

即使是出於好心的人──放心

I don’t mistake you for— fall prey to this fallacy,

我沒有把你看走眼── 也會淪為這個謬誤的犧牲品

because you humans tend to view compromise as a virtue unto itself.

因為你們人類傾向將妥協視為一種美德

“It’s March 1861.

時至 1861 年三月

Seven states have seceded from the Union

自從林肯當選總統

since Abraham Lincoln was elected president.

已經有七個州脫離聯邦

As Lincoln takes office with four more states threatening to leave,

林肯就職後，又有四個州威脅要脫離

he promises not to interfere with slavery in states where it exists,

他承諾不會干涉已經有奴隸的州

but to prohibit its expansion into new territories and states.”

但是禁止蓄奴延伸至新領土及州

“It’s April 1861, and a Civil War has broken out over slavery.”

現在，1861 年四月 南北戰爭因奴隸制開打

Some things can't be resolved with a compromise.

有些事不能以妥協解決