Stratagem 20
Original German
Wenn wir ihm die Vordersätze abgefragt haben und er sie zugegeben hat, müssen wir den Schluß daraus, nicht etwa auch noch fragen, sondern gradezu selbst ziehn: ja sogar wenn von den Vordersätzen noch einer oder der andre fehlt, so nehmen wir ihn doch als gleichfalls eingeräumt an und ziehn den Schluß. Welches dann eine Anwendung der fallacia non causae ut causae ist.
Musean translation
Machine-assisted, directly from Deussen’s German edition (1923).
Once we have questioned him about the premises and he has conceded them, we must not ask about the conclusion too, but draw it ourselves without more ado. Indeed, even if one or another premise is still missing, assume that it too has been conceded and draw the conclusion. This is another application of the fallacy of treating a non-cause as a cause.
Plain English translation
Machine-assisted, independently translated directly from Deussen’s German edition (1923).
After the opponent has accepted the premises we asked about, do not ask them to accept the conclusion too. Draw it yourself. Even if one or another premise is still missing, treat it as accepted and draw the conclusion. This is another case of treating a non-cause as a cause.
About this section
Stratagem 20 is part of The Art of Being Right by Arthur Schopenhauer. This page sets the German original beside 2 direct-source translations, so any line can be checked against the source. It is section 25 of 43 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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