Snape - a werewolf bigot?? Was: Say it isn't so Lupin!!!

[wynnleaf]

No: HPFGUIDX 170199


> > > Alla:
> > > 
> > > Um, Snape's usage of the word proves to me that he was and 
maybe is 
> a 
> > > bigot, really I need nothing more. 
> 
> Random832: 
> > Do you not even see the problem with saying "It must be such a 
bigoted
> > term because only the people we know are horrible bigots say 
it" - as
> > you said two posts ago, and ALSO saying "I know snape's such a 
> horrible
> > bigot because he uses this term"?
> 
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Um, not quite. We also know that this word is bad, just bad in 
itself 
> in my opinion.
> 
> 
> We have support from different sources - to name just two would be 
Ron 
> and Dumbledore that *mudblood* is a horrible insult.
> 
> On the Tower, when DD seems to be concerned with the matters of 
life 
> and death, he still takes time to remind Draco not to use this 
word in 
> front of him.
> 
> 
> Now if you put this addition to your chain, then it will be 
correct 
> summary of my position.
> 
> It would be something like that.
> 
> 1. The word *mudblood* is a horrible term to call anybody because 
> several characters tell us so **and** explain why they think so.
> 
> 2. Only people who are horrible bigots use it.
> 
> 3. Because Snape uses it - he is a horrible bigot.
> 

wynnleaf
The problem with this line of reasoning is #2.  How do you know 
that "only people who are horrible bigots use it?"

In the series, Draco, Riddle, Kreacher, Mrs. Black, and Gaunt use 
the term.  We know that they are *all* highly biased against 
muggleborns.  We know this, not because they use the 
word "mudblood," but because they espouse, on numerous occasions, 
thoroughgoing opinions that muggleborns ought to die, be put out of 
the wizarding world, or are at least far beneath them, etc.  When we 
first learn about the word, we are at the same time learning that 
Draco and Riddle despised muggleborns.  Draco uses the word 
repeatedly in COS in order to accent his beliefs.  This encourages 
us (and the new-to-the-wizarding-world characters, Harry and 
Hermione) to assume that use of the word at any time means that a 
person holds the same beliefs as Draco or Riddle.  But there is no 
real proof of that.

We know that Kreacher and Mrs. Black despise muggleborns, because 
they say so on all sorts of occasions.  We know that Gaunt despises 
muggleborns because he makes that quite clear in his comments.

Basically, your line of reasoning is saying that because these 5 
characters despise muggleborns *and* use the "mudblood" word in 
order to accentuate their opinions, therefore *anyone* who uses the 
word at any time must, of necessity, despise muggleborns as well.

That's an  argument that affirms the consequent and is therefore 
fallacious.  Here's why.  You're saying:  Those who are bigoted 
against muggleborns use the bad word "mudblood."  Snape uses the 
term "mudblood" on one occasion.  Therefore, Snape is bigoted 
against muggleborns.  A similar argument might be:  "All people 
whose surname begins with Mac are of Scottish ancestry. Dougal is of 
Scottish ancestry. Therefore his surname begins with Mac."   Or to 
put it in the blandest of terms:  All those who are A are or do B.  
X is or does B, therefore X is A.


*Or* you may also be saying that the word "mudblood" is so 
incredibly bad, that it is in fact *impossible* to use the word 
without having a huge bias against, or despising muggleborns.  There 
is no proof of this in canon.  Because we see 5 characters using 
that word who we otherwise know to despise muggleborns, does not 
therefore mean that *any* other character who uses that word, 
regardless of the circumstances, is therefore *bound* to have the 
same beliefs as the other 5 characters.

wynnleaf