Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this speech.

Question

Which text from Reagan’s speech, “Remarks on East-West Relations at Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin,” is an example of fallacious reasoning?

Responses

"In West Germany and here in Berlin, there took place an economic miracle, the Wirtschaftswunder."

"The Western alliance responded by committing itself to a counter-deployment, unless the Soviets agreed to negotiate a better solution; namely, the elimination of such weapons on both sides."

"…that just as truth can flourish only when the journalist is given freedom of speech, so prosperity can come about only when the farmer and businessman enjoy economic freedom."

"Are these the beginnings of profound changes in the Soviet state? Or are they token gestures intended to raise false hopes in the West, or to strengthen the Soviet system without changing it?"

Answer 1

"Are these the beginnings of profound changes in the Soviet state? Or are they token gestures intended to raise false hopes in the West, or to strengthen the Soviet system without changing it?" - This text from Reagan's speech can be considered an example of fallacious reasoning as it presents a false dichotomy, implying that the only two possible scenarios are either profound changes in the Soviet state or token gestures meant to deceive the West. This oversimplification of the situation ignores the complexities and nuances involved in international relations.