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Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Photo source: Wikimedia Commons, Scott Ableman
Photo license: CC BY-SA 3.0
What is an argument? Here is my definition:
An argument is a reason or set of reasons meant to support a belief
I believe the first step in any disagreement is make the central proposition as clear as possible. This is important so that both sides have a clear reference point, and it also helps the conversation stay focused. That's why its important to make the central proposition clear and not deviate from it.
I also believe many disagreements go unresolved because people are not clear about the evidence and reasons they are using. For example, someone might assume that a particular piece of evidence is so obvious that they don't even mention it in a debate. They assume that the person they're arguing with is also aware of this evidence. But in actuality, the other person doesn't know about this piece of evidence, thus resulting in a disconnect. For this reason, I believe its important to be explicit about all supporting reasons.
License: CC BY-SA 4.0
