in protest of such a ban is that "If we think to regulate printing, . . . we must regulate all recreations and pastimes, all that is delightful to man" (10). In making such an argument, Milton commits the domino fallacy, which assumes that one event---press censorship, must inevitably lead to censorship of music, dancing, overeating, drinking, etc.
Milton's argument is based on his passionate and powerful appeal to the reader's fears, to his outrage that the censorship of the press will create a domino effect which will result in the banning of all these other activities. He appeals to the reader who might not think it such a bad thing that scandalous, libelous
and seditious works be censored, but might feel offended that music or dancing or drinking be considered for condemnation as well. In order to draw the passion of such people into the fight against the censorship of the press, Milton wanted to engage their fear that their own particular pleasure might be in some way threatened by the censorship of the press that was being proposed by certain authorities. If those readers and citizens could be made afraid of being personally affected, then it would be more likely that they would protest against the first "domino" of the censorship process.
Edmund Burke, in an excerpt from Reflections on the Revolution in France, argues that order in society is maintained by reliance on tradition. He argues that "The Revolution was made to preserve our ancient, indisputable laws and liberties and that ancient constitution of government which is our only security for law and liberty. . . . The very idea of the fabrication of a new government is enough to fill us with disgust and horror" (18). Here Burke commits the fallacy known as appealing to tradition. He wants to maintain the political status quo by frightening people and highlighting the need for maintenance of tradition and the avoidance of a new form which would threaten that tradit...