In Malcolm’s case, the argument would be that British government officials are be unlikely to conspire to assassinate the German head of state because, being British, they are likely to share intense revulsion towards such an idea, and also to fear the exceptional outrage among the British public should they be caught doing it
Malcolm doesn’t make that claim if the description of the argument is a fair one. It’s not the word “unlikely” but the word “impossible” that is used; and the fear of an outrage by the public isn’t discussed.
It may be a good thing to correct an opponent’s argument before you defeat it, but we’re not obliged to actually call it a good argument.
In this situation, Malcolm’s statements were only briefly paraphrased by his opponent, and the criticism of Malcolm is being presented as a great and commendable example of rational thinking. In such a context, I believe it’s only fair and reasonable to give Malcolm’s reported statements maximally charitable reading.
In particular, I think it’s reasonable to interpret “impossible” in its casual meaning (i.e. merely vastly improbable, not literally disallowed by the laws of logic and physics). Moreover, I also think it’s reasonable to interpret “national character” in a way that makes his statements more sensible, i.e. as including all factors that determine what behaviors are a priori more or less likely from a given government and its officials and subjects.
Malcolm doesn’t make that claim if the description of the argument is a fair one. It’s not the word “unlikely” but the word “impossible” that is used; and the fear of an outrage by the public isn’t discussed.
It may be a good thing to correct an opponent’s argument before you defeat it, but we’re not obliged to actually call it a good argument.
In this situation, Malcolm’s statements were only briefly paraphrased by his opponent, and the criticism of Malcolm is being presented as a great and commendable example of rational thinking. In such a context, I believe it’s only fair and reasonable to give Malcolm’s reported statements maximally charitable reading.
In particular, I think it’s reasonable to interpret “impossible” in its casual meaning (i.e. merely vastly improbable, not literally disallowed by the laws of logic and physics). Moreover, I also think it’s reasonable to interpret “national character” in a way that makes his statements more sensible, i.e. as including all factors that determine what behaviors are a priori more or less likely from a given government and its officials and subjects.