Wednesday, June 25, 2008

I’m convinced of my views, just as you are convinced of yours. So who’s to say who is right or wrong?”

Political arguments are not created equal, and do not all have equal merit. Even less so, political rants and diatribes. There are many objective criteria with which an unbiased spectator might judge whether or not an argument is strong or weak, and whether a position is well or poorly defended. Here, briefly, are just a few such criteria. Having taught numerous courses in Critical Thinking, I can testify that this list merely scratches the surface of a vast topic.


ibid:

And while you are at it, ask yourself: (1) Which side is more willing to own up to its past positions, predictions, and assurances? (2) Which side examines the broader field of source material? (3) Which side looks for the most relevant information, even if that information is absent from the corporate media? (4) Which side is more tolerant of dissent, both within and outside of its ranks? (5) Which side uses the more cogent arguments? And (6) which side relies less on fallacious reasoning?


And two from the comments:

In short, using reason on people who have abandoned reason is about as useful as bringing a catcher's mit to a game of tennis.


"Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest." - Denis Diderot

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