Ebook The Art of Argument
What is meant by “argue?” The above subtitle is a deliberate play on two meanings of this word. In the most common, or “negative” sense, “having an argument” implies an emotional disagreement. This is not what is meant by how philosophers should argue. (Some of them have been known to slip-up, of course. As philosophers, however, they should know better.)
The Latin word argütus means clear, bright, distinct or penetrating. The Latin noun argümentum means evidence or proof. The Latin verb arguö means to prove or reveal. To the Latin mind an argument was not necessarily an emotional disagreement, it was an attempt to reveal what was true on the basis of evidence and reason.
Philosophers are expected to argue in the “positive” sense. They try to convince others
of their point of view by giving a reason, or reasons, to support it. Prosecutors act like philosophers when in a court case they seek to prove their case “beyond a reasonable
doubt.” When Peter says (I Peter 3:15) to always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that is in you, he is basically asking you to have an argument ready. This implies a need to support your beliefs (or conclusions)
with reasons, or premises.
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Ebook The Art of Argument ( 18 pages type pdf 1.4 MB )
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