Description
The Virtues of Critical Thinkers: The Positive Purposes of Arguments
In preparing for this discussion, you took part in an interactive scenario called "The Graduate". In the scenario, you got to experience different people presenting different arguments (some of which you may not have liked). We have learned a lot in this course about the meaning of an argument and what constitutes a good argument. This discussion allows us to discuss more positive things that we can learn from "arguing" in the right way.
Prepare: To prepare for this discussion, watch the following video from Daniel H. Cohen: For Argument's Sake and review section 9.4 of Chapter 9 called "Confronting Disagreement by Seeking Truth." Take a look as well at the required resources from this week and make sure that you have completed "The Graduate" interactive scenario.
Reflect: Think about experiences you have had that involved conflicts with others. What was the genesis of the conflict? Would it have been possible for the exchange to be more productive? Think about why disagreements often lead to fights rather than opportunities to learn from each other.
Write: Answer the following questions: What is an area of life in which you have experienced people treating arguments as a kind of war? What were the consequences of that approach? What is an area of life in which you have experienced people treating arguments as a kind of performance? Was that approach effective? Why is it better to treat arguments as a venue for learning? What traits of character does it require to be able to live according to that approach? What benefits can it have in our lives to take that approach? (please give a specific example)
Explanation & Answer
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Running Head: THE POSITIVE PURPOSE OF ARGUMENT
Name
Lecturer
Institution
POSITIVE PURPOSE OF ARGUMENT
What is an area of life in which you have experienced people treating arguments as a kind
of war?
Have witnessed many arguments between parents and children when deciding on which career
the children to peruse being treated as a kind of war. Before being admitted to the university,
many students find themselves at longer ends with parents who are very authoritative and want
to dictate to their children what courses they should pursue in the University. Many of my school
friends have confessed having bitter arguments with their parents that can be viewed as war as
they try to convince each other the most appropriate course to undertake. The case of one of my
friends studying computer science at the University presents a good example of an argument
degenerating to war. In this case, the parents want...
