Does John Swift use any ethical fallacies in A Modest Proposal?

Answer 1

There is at least one logical fallacy in A Modest Proposal. Swift refers to his American friend throughout as the guy he got all his information on eating babies from. It infers that Americans eat babies. The fallacy is that because he is considered an expert, when he says something readers must think its true, which it isn't.

Satire is a form of writing that employs wit to attack folly, Swift uses his entire essay as a witty attack on the social and economical problems of the time in Ireland.

Answer 2

Yes, John Swift uses irony and satire in "A Modest Proposal" to criticize the social and economic policies of his time. While the proposal itself suggests a morally reprehensible solution to poverty, Swift's intention is to highlight the unjust treatment of the Irish by the English ruling class. The use of this rhetorical device challenges readers to reflect on the ethical implications of such policies.