Arguing with People Arguing With People By Michael A. Gilbert Professor of Philosophy York University Canada Broadview Press 2014

Arguing with People Part Three Arguing with People

Arguing with People 3 Good Arguments  Arguments come in many types:  Serious and silly  Long and short  Weak and powerful  Casual and well thought out  Also in kinds – inquiry, negotiation, persuasion.  What is good and bad depends on what kind it is © M.A. Gilbert 2014

Arguing with People 4 Heuristic/ Eristic  Heuristic arguments are cooperative and mutually supportive.  Eristic arguments are ones where one person wants to “win” at any cost.  You need to be aware of how heuristic or eristic your partner is and how heuristic or eristic you are.  People tend to more heuristic when they do not feel threatened. © M.A. Gilbert 2014

Arguing with People 5 Ethos  Refers to reputation and character.  For us it also includes personal history and previous relationships and interactions.  Someone’s ethos may vary according to the area or context.  Ethos can be strengthened or damaged through behavior and personal actions. © M.A. Gilbert 2014

Arguing with People 6 Audience  In every situation we know or imagine we know something about our audience.  We always share some common beliefs and values with our audience.  We present ourselves according to our audience.  We assume audience members have some homogeneity. © M.A. Gilbert 2014

Arguing with People 7 Agreement  You always want to begin an argument with agreement.  Regardless of kind of argument, you need to dig until you find some common belief or goal.  You can even use commonly held beliefs called loci, as a starting point.  If you cannot find any mutual beliefs, you are not likely to have a useful argument. © M.A. Gilbert 2014

Arguing with People 8 Watching & Listening  You need to pay attention to the argument.  Not to think about your reply.  Not just to the words, but the feelings as well.  You must listen to the message and not just the words.  Trust your instincts:  If the words do not match the emotions, believe the emotions. © M.A. Gilbert 2014

Arguing with People 9 Beliefs  Every belief we have has a different degree of tenacity.  Some, usually the most boring ones, are very hard to change, E.g., I’m sitting at my desk.  Others, can be changed fairly easily. E.g., our appointment is for next Tuesday.  Most fall in between, and especially if they are value beliefs and not “facts.” © M.A. Gilbert 2014

Arguing with People 10 The Most Important Belief REMEMBER － No matter what-you may be wrong!  Any belief may turn out to be wrong or have a counter example.  =2 is obvious, but if you add two colors, you just get one.  Being a skeptic is healthy for encountering the beliefs of others and especially your own. © M.A. Gilbert 2014

Arguing with People 11 Everything I know to be absolutely true is in the box below. © M.A. Gilbert 2014

Arguing with People 12 The Rules  Rarely followed strictly.  “Don’t put forward a statement you do not believe.”  Does not always apply to negotiations.  May be put forward “for argument’s sake.”  May help the argument. © M.A. Gilbert 2014

Arguing with People 13 Critical Thinking  Focuses on internal relations of arguments.  Relation of reasons (premisses) to claims (conclusions).  Lines of support between connected arguments.  Fallacies are used as a way of judging arguments.  Critical Thinking is extremely important and useful.  The tools it teaches are invaluable. © M.A. Gilbert 2014

Arguing with People 14 RSA Triangle  One set of rules introduced by Johnson & Blair (1977) often adopted and adapted.  Relevance: are the premisses relevant to the conclusion?  Sufficiency: is there enough support from the premisses for the conclusion?  Acceptability: are the premisses true? © M.A. Gilbert 2014

Arguing with People 15 Fairness  Emphasized in English and Rhetoric courses.  Forms the basis of the pragma-dialectic school of Amsterdam.  No one should be prevented from making an argument, defending it, or critiquing their partner’s.  This is the idea: we are all equal and fair. © M.A. Gilbert 2014

Arguing with People 16 Social Rules  Different contexts call for different rules.  Behavior at a rock concert is very different from a symphony.  Arguing in Tokyo has different rules than arguing in New York.  Arguing in a pub is different from arguing at work.  In familiar situations we usually know the rules.  If the rules aren’t working – stop and assess. © M.A. Gilbert 2014

Arguing with People 17 Following Rules  We don’t follow rules strictly.  We often go over the speed limit to an extent.  But we disapprove of someone at racing speeds.  What we want mostly is courtesy and reasonableness.  Don’t be a slave to the rules, but don’t flout them either. © M.A. Gilbert 2014

Arguing with People 18 The Idea Arguer  Reasonable  Uses evidence, believes that arguments matter.  Not Dogmatic  Allows for possibility of being wrong.  Good listener  Wants to understand, is interested.  Empathetic  Wants to see your point of view. © M.A. Gilbert 2014

Arguing with People 19 Golden Rule Argue with someone as you would want to be argued with.  What are the kinds of arguments you respect?  Who are the arguers you respect?  How do you want your audience to behave?  What kind of listener do you want to speak with? © M.A. Gilbert 2014

Arguing with People 20 Coalescent Argumentation  Things coalesce when they come together and merge.  Begin your argument with points of agreement.  Follow the lines of argument until you find the divergence.  Work with your partner to see if there is another way to satisfy your joint goals. © M.A. Gilbert 2014

Arguing with People 21 Agreement  Ideally arguments end in agreement,  In an inquiry we agree that a solution or belief is the best.  In a persuasion dialogue one of us comes round to the other, or we find a middle place.  In negotiation we both feel that we got a good deal. © M.A. Gilbert 2014

Arguing with People 22 More Agreement  If you do not begin with agreement then it is unlikely you will end with it.  Need to look at all the modes of the argument: logical, emotional, physical and kisceral.  Need to understand and respect your partner’s goals.  Need to look at the information being conveyed, as well as the words. © M.A. Gilbert 2014

Arguing with People 23 Your Increased Arsenal  These are the skills you have added.  Be aware of the stage or argument.  Be aware of the mode the argument is in.  Begin as the ideal arguer.  Begin believing your partner is an ideal arguer.  Let the rules reveal themselves.  Begin with points of agreement.  Include and respect your partner’s goals and values. © M.A. Gilbert 2014

Arguing with People 24 The End  Alongside your Critical Thinking tools and skills, the material here can enable you to argue better and forge longer lasting strong agreements.  Being flexible and listening sympathetically are your strongest points.  Use them. © M.A. Gilbert 2014

Arguing with People 25 End of part 3 © M.A. Gilbert 2014