Lecture Notes: Our Quest for the Golden Apple

Introduction

• The speaker humorously blames many modern problems on the ancient Greeks, except for Kanye West.
• References the story of Paris of Troy and the golden apple.
• Discusses the origin of the proverb "men are trash" in the context of the story.

Main Concern

• Modern tendency to compare dissimilar things (apples to oranges) has become problematic.
• Focus on the concept of false equivalence:
  • Defined as a logical fallacy where opposing ideas are equated, even if they're not equal.
  • Jeff Schweitzer warns it diminishes the ability to arbitrate between conflicting claims.

Uses of False Equivalence

1. To Vilify

• Examples:
  • Parents comparing children unfairly.
  • Political comparisons, e.g., Affordable Care Act to genocide.
  • Comparing opponents to Hitler or Nazism.
• Such comparisons trivialize historical events and are low-quality arguments.

2. To Justify

• Examples:
  • Argument against gun control by comparing guns to cars.
• Illogical justifications lead to loss of perspective and proportion.
• The "what about" syndrome as a way to deflect blame.

Harms of False Equivalence

• Personal relationships and reasoning are affected.
• Personal anecdote: Equating one's own pain to a friend's deeper struggle with depression.
• Dangers of minimizing others' experiences through false equivalences.
• Racist and prejudiced stereotypes are perpetuated through these comparisons.
  • Example of equating young black men to predators or Muslims to terrorists.

Solutions

• Deconstructing the Golden Apple:

  • Identify language used to set up false equivalences (e.g., X is Y).
  • Analyze if the comparison is reasonable rather than perfectly equal.
  • Re-evaluate the intent behind making comparisons.

• Empathy and Listening:

  • Instead of equating experiences, focus on listening and understanding.
  • Suggested approach: "I don’t know what to say, but I want you to know that I care."

Conclusion

• Reflection on Greek comparisons and the inaccuracy of many comparisons labeled as "apples to oranges."
• Emphasis on planting seeds of reason, empathy, and fairness.
• Aim to ensure that comparisons become fairer and more insightful.