Constructing high quality arguments is an art, and requires practice and mental training. We need to learn how to think differently, reacting less with our emotions and more with patient logic. We also learn how to break down a complex issue into its constituent components, which helps us appreciate ambiguity and the value of being open-minded. Understanding the tools of effective argumentation is important for maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships in all realms of life, both in personal and professional settings.
Being an effective communicator depends most of all on strong active listening skills. Good argumentation in turn requires the willingness and ability to listen—to give others the benefit of the doubt. The principle of charitable listening is crucial for having a reasonable debate about any subject. As soon as we write off what the other person says based on our own biases and assumptions, we fail to recognize that there might be other ways of viewing the issue. To reach common ground in an argument, or to “agree to disagree,” it is important to respect that another person’s worldview, grounds, values, and beliefs are critical to why they believe what they do. The greatest challenge in argumentation is recognizing which logical fallacies are coming in the way of a constructive solution to a problem. Likewise, it can be difficult to convince a person who does not recognize that appeals to authority or other common fallacies are actually flaws in their reasoning.
While appeals to emotion can be useful, a more effective and universal approach would be to break down my argument first to anticipate challenges and recognize whether or not I have been using logical fallacies. The more I have thought about my own argument, the better I will be at recognizing when those who disagree are using logical fallacies.
In my daily life, learning the essence of logic will help me to see where I am making faulty decisions. A perfect example is with how I spend money. Marketers are expert at capitalizing on logical fallacies, persuading consumers to change their behavior in ways that are irrational. By recognizing logical fallacies in marketing, I can become a more informed and more intelligent consumer. Likewise, I can become a more critical thinker when reading news articles and refrain from buying into fallacious arguments. I can see how statistics can be misleading, and yet also know that quantitative data is ultimately more reliable than anecdotal evidence or appeals to authority.
Using logical reasoning is easier in written than in oral communications because of the gift of time. When engaging in an oral discussion, there is very little time to reflect on the logical fallacies, and there is a greater tendency for the emotions to come in the way. Considering multiple points of view…
