以下文章来源于新潮沉思录 ，作者潮思 新潮沉思录 . 新潮沉思录 本文来自微信公众号： 新潮沉思录 ，作者：邓铂鋆，题图来自：视觉中国 在网络空间上，我们经常看到这样的诡辩手段："你说国家做了A是为了老百姓好，B的问题就不存在 么？国家真这么好心，为什么不解决B？"最近，禁毒议题在社交平台上激烈讨论，一位"话题制造 者"成功地提供了一个话题。 笔者认为，这类表述是一种常见的滑坡谬误 （Slippery slope） ：指通过夸大事件链中每个因果关系 的强度，将可能性转化为必然性，最终得出不合理结论的逻辑错误 。其核心特征在于假设事件A发 生后会引发B、C直至Z的连锁反应，并以此否定A的合理性，但实际推论环节常缺乏充分证据支持。 借此机会，我们今天谈谈成瘾品的合法与非法的界限。 三大合法成瘾品 成瘾是人类社会中存在的一种历史悠久的现象，五千年前的人类就已经开始使用酒精、鸦片、大麻等 成瘾物质。现代社会的成瘾包括了物质成瘾 （如药物、毒品、烟酒） 和行为成瘾 （如赌博、沉迷网 络与手机） 。 成瘾品是一个中性概念，它既包括在合理使用的前提下危害可控的医疗用途药物，也包括非医疗用途 的麻醉品和提神物质。人们根据成瘾 ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the transition from a mercantilist trade system dominated by the British East India Company to a more decentralized and spontaneous free trade era characterized by "scatter merchants" in the context of global history [2][3][4]. Group 1: Historical Context - The British government utilized the East India Company to engage in the opium trade, instigating the Opium Wars to control trade with China, leading to the company's eventual dissolution and the end of the Silver Age [2][3]. - The Silver Age was marked by the British Industrial Revolution and free trade, culminating in significant historical events such as the bankruptcy of the East India Company and the destruction of the Old Summer Palace during the Second Opium War [2][3]. Group 2: The Role of "Scatter Merchants" - The book "Mr. Smith Goes to China" by Han Jiexie focuses on the activities of three Scottish merchants named George Smith, whose trade activities in India and China illustrate the rise of the British global empire [2][3]. - These merchants operated during the Qianlong period, and their trade demands prompted the Macartney Mission to China, contributing to the development of a global trade network [3][4]. Group 3: Trade Dynamics - The trade triangle formed between Britain, India, and China involved the exchange of goods such as tea, silver, cotton, and opium, shaping the economic geography of modern Asia [5][6]. - The East India Company collaborated with the Cohong (Thirteen Hongs) to create a trade and financial system known as the "Guangzhou System," which was later disrupted by the activities of the "Smiths" [5][6]. Group 4: Financial Operations - The "Smiths" provided high-risk loans to Chinese merchants at interest rates of 18%-22%, which, while lower than the legal rate of 36%, led to widespread defaults and contributed to the 1779 Guangzhou financial crisis [7][8]. - They utilized the East India Company's financial system to facilitate the flow of silver from India to Guangzhou, supporting the company's tea purchases, with significant amounts of silver injected into the system [6][7]. Group 5: Impact on Trade Policies - The actions of the "Smiths" challenged the monopoly of the East India Company, leading to a shift in British colonial policy towards more liberal trade practices, culminating in the repeal of the company's trading privileges in 1813 [9][10]. - The article highlights the inherent contradictions in the relationship between the "Smiths" and the East India Company, characterized by both dependency and a desire to undermine the company's monopoly [6][9]. Group 6: The Role of Scottish Merchants - Scottish merchants were significantly more active in trade compared to their English counterparts, driven by a historical context of conquest and subjugation, which fostered a spirit of independence and opposition to monopolistic practices [10][11]. - The "Smiths" embodied the ideals of Adam Smith's free trade philosophy, acting as practitioners of these ideas in the context of the global economy [9][10].