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Hmmm. I think you're overthinking this one, although if Russell had included the full quote from Stace (which I don't have handy), it would have been helpful. If I say "Joe Blow is an extremely obscure historical figure", what do I generally mean by that?

45 posted on 01/15/2004 7:38:22 AM PST by general_re ("Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson)

If I say "Joe Blow is an extremely obscure historical figure", what do I generally mean by that?

Ah, I had missed the ambiguity. There is a potential double meaning in: "Mr. Stace says that my writings are 'extremely obscure' ..." I had assumed that the critic was saying Russell's writings lack clarity; and I ignored the other meaning, as in "Russell is an all-but-forgotten writer." But I don't think that's the fallacy we're supposed to spot. Russell goes on to say: "As I have a very intense desire to make my meaning plain ..." so I think, from the context, that the potential ambiguity is one which we can ignore. I'll stick with my analysis.