Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno Concluded.djvu/82

44 fallacy of comparison——meaning that it assumes that what is comparatively good is therefore positively good."

"Then what is your test of a good act?"

"That it shall be our best," Arthur confidently replied. "And even then 'we are unprofitable servants.' But let me illustrate the two fallacies. Nothing illustrates a fallacy so well as an extreme case, which fairly comes under it. Suppose I find two children drowning in a pond. I rush in, and save one of the children, and then walk away, leaving the other to drown. Clearly I have done good in saving a child's life? But——. Again, supposing I meet an inoffensive stranger, and knock him down, and walk on. Clearly that is better than if I had proceeded to jump upon him and break his ribs? But——"

"Those 'buts' are quite unanswerable," I said. "But I should like an instance from real life."

"Well, let us take one of those abominations of modern Society, a Charity-Bazaar. It's an interesting question to think out——how much of the money, that reaches the object in