On 11/11/02 12:44 PM, "tarquin" tarquin@planetunreal.com wrote:
The Cunctator wrote:
This is a false dilemma.
Cunc, I think your above reasoning should also be applied to the following (that you posted a while ago)
(a) we are one multi-lingual encyclopedia (b) we are many encyclopedias, one in each of many languages
Good point. Is the above a false dilemma? It is if there are other options which are not being considered, or if there isn't a substantive difference between the options listed above.
I think we generally agree that the above options fairly describe the possibilities.
Are they in fact not substantively different?
In other words, are they interchangeable premises? Can you draw the same conclusions from either option? I don't think so.
I believe "We are one multi-lingual encyclopedia; therefore, we should have an integrated user database" is a stronger (and different argument) than "We are many encyclopedias, one in each of many languages; therefore, we should have an integrated user database."
Simply put, (b) doesn't in itself provide any reason for the various participants of different languages to work together, whereas (a) does.