Exercise4.1.6

PHI332 : The Class : Argument Evaluation : Objection & Replies : Exercise4.1.6

Exercise4.1.6: Good manner in conversations

The activity of raising objections by its nature examines the acceptability of a premise or inference. The whole point of the objection is to test what has been said. If your assumption in making the objection is that your partners are wrong and that your objection will shut them up, you are being uncharitable. Do NOT say:

!!! "You are wrong (or stupid or silly or immoral) to say that!"

You should NOT assume that your objection is a conversation stopper ("I win! The truth is obvious!")

DO say:

"Am I understanding you right that [blah blah]?
[If yes,] do you agree this means [la dee dah]?
[If yes,] perhaps [la dee dah] will seem wrong to many people?

In making objections, always speak as if giving an invitation to draw out the intelligence of your partner further in the matter {"You have a different perspective on this than I do, so there's a good chance that, by putting our heads together, we may actually make a bit of progress towards understanding the issue better.")

Once you have completed this excercise you should:

Go on to Exercise4.1.7
or
Go back to Objection and Replies

E-mail George Rudebusch at George.Rudebusch@nau.edu
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