Actually, it could be a good way of testing a premise. You have to take it to extremes to see if it makes sense. For instance, the debate over taxes. Do higher taxes create more economic activity or do low taxes? To find out, take them both to extreme levels and see what you get. If you raised taxes to 90% would people find even want to work anymore? If you lowered them to 10% would you see more or less economic activity?
By taking a premise to the extreme it is much easier to discover the advantages and disadvantages of it. Which is better Welfare or employment. Take them to extremes. What if everyone quit their job and went on Welfare? What if everyone quit Welfare and went to work? Which would be better?
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