Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Of Arguing
I had an awful argument with a friend of mine recently. What was discusses is irrelevant to this blog, but it and some other events have changed my opinion on arguing. Its supposed to be two people or groups of people sharing their viewpoints. Assuming that happens, what really happens? People rarely change their beliefs and when you pit opposing forces together, all they do is push. I guess people sometimes change what they think about something, but in my experience, it happens more as group polarization than anything. The prime example is atheist-christian debates. I've never even heard of people changing sides. All that happens is the Christians become more Christian and the atheists more atheistic. Both sides get more pissed off, stubborn, and any chance of change is thrown out the window. Those debates usually open with something like "no good society prevents these debates from occurring," but I'm at a loss to find any positive effect of those debates other than people finding what they believe is legitimate justification for their beliefs. I'm probably neglecting a number of good arguments I have had in the past, but it seems that I always leave an argument worse off than I was when I entered it.
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3 comments:
John Stuart Mills said argument is the only way to enhance your faith in a belief. If you believe something, you should be able to defend it.
Once upon a time, Aaron Martin was a socialist. Seriously. Then I had a political and economic debate with Alan Lohff; needless to say, I understand the virtues of libertarianism and limited government as a path to happiness.
I think arguing is important, especially with religious debates. Otherwise, why would anyone be religious? It helps their faith along, so long as they can defend it from fair and accurate defenses.
I do agree that it polarizes circles of friends. The benefit comes from the testing your opinion in the tempered flames of debate.
Take a philosophy course to get your gen eds out of the way next year. it will change your opinion on arguing.
I think its great that your debate with Alan led you to believe in something you have a deep conviction in now. However, the way I see it, in terms of religious debates especially, the way I see it, part of arguing is something like "here's what I believe and I think you should believe it too because my beliefs make more sense" but its pretty rare that people actually change their ground. That's what I'm getting hung up on.
I'm getting dozens of credits with all the AP shit I've done, but Philosophy is in the short list of classes I'm interested in taking, even if I don't have to.
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