Tuesday, December 20, 2011
I was watching a debate which made me think of ad hominems
I loathe ad-hominems because they do not advance discussions or debates. They do not address the claims made but instead serve to detract the conversation to paltry details that have no bearing upon whether or not the claims presented are true.
Whether someone has a beard or not, is or is not obese, is or is not wearing makeup, is or is not physically disabled, is or is not heterosexual (the list goes on ad infinitum) has no place in an intellectual discussion.
Obviously, there will be a variety of opinions regarding someone’s style of presentation (or any other aspect of their person), but opinions shouldn’t enter a debate or intellectual discussion. Many fall prey to this because it is always easier to insert an opinion about one’s opponent than to counter a claim, or, conversely, to offer more information about that claim and why the claim being made is true.
Facts and claims to reality should be the issues discussed because there will be a true or false answer regarding a factual claim. A case can be built up to support a claim to reality. A case cannot be erected to show that the color yellow is the best color or that blouses of a certain color, style or cut are superior to another type of blouse. These are merely preferences determined by one’s subjective sensory experience. Each person will have a different answer so we end up wasting our time when the conversation derails down the “ad hom” path.
I cannot tell you the degree of tedium I experience when I witness people making ad homs throughout their feigned “intellectual responses” to other people’s claims. If you are offering an opinion about a person and are not responding to a claim that is made, you are not advancing the discussion, you are not contributing, you are stifling the discussion.
Whether someone has a beard or not, is or is not obese, is or is not wearing makeup, is or is not physically disabled, is or is not heterosexual (the list goes on ad infinitum) has no place in an intellectual discussion.
Obviously, there will be a variety of opinions regarding someone’s style of presentation (or any other aspect of their person), but opinions shouldn’t enter a debate or intellectual discussion. Many fall prey to this because it is always easier to insert an opinion about one’s opponent than to counter a claim, or, conversely, to offer more information about that claim and why the claim being made is true.
Facts and claims to reality should be the issues discussed because there will be a true or false answer regarding a factual claim. A case can be built up to support a claim to reality. A case cannot be erected to show that the color yellow is the best color or that blouses of a certain color, style or cut are superior to another type of blouse. These are merely preferences determined by one’s subjective sensory experience. Each person will have a different answer so we end up wasting our time when the conversation derails down the “ad hom” path.
I cannot tell you the degree of tedium I experience when I witness people making ad homs throughout their feigned “intellectual responses” to other people’s claims. If you are offering an opinion about a person and are not responding to a claim that is made, you are not advancing the discussion, you are not contributing, you are stifling the discussion.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Wow, I can't believe I have 3 followers on my blog :) Never thought I'd see the day. Thank you so much!!
I just got a 2nd job and I am very excited about it. :D I'm going to be busier than ever before. An hour commute doesn't sound like fun; but hey, can't complain since my bf works in the same city and we can ride carpool and avoid traffic. I'm also busy applying to nursing schools and had to take a big 3 hour test this morning before work. I have to pass this test if I want to even apply to a particular nursing program (don't know the results yet). UW BSN program is the TOP nursing program in the United States. I will definitely apply there too but not expecting to get in as competition is insane and the cost to attend is exorbitant.
I'm sorry if I haven't responded to anyone's message on youtube. I'm not ignoring you and my busyness isn't an excuse. I hope to make a video soon again.
I just got a 2nd job and I am very excited about it. :D I'm going to be busier than ever before. An hour commute doesn't sound like fun; but hey, can't complain since my bf works in the same city and we can ride carpool and avoid traffic. I'm also busy applying to nursing schools and had to take a big 3 hour test this morning before work. I have to pass this test if I want to even apply to a particular nursing program (don't know the results yet). UW BSN program is the TOP nursing program in the United States. I will definitely apply there too but not expecting to get in as competition is insane and the cost to attend is exorbitant.
I'm sorry if I haven't responded to anyone's message on youtube. I'm not ignoring you and my busyness isn't an excuse. I hope to make a video soon again.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Do you use flawed reasoning? This site http://www.prioritysystem.com/reasons1.html
mentions some fallacies in our thinking...
Do you....
"Base the credibility of an argument on its manner of presentation?"
"Give preferential treatment to those perceived to be group members?"
"See patterns where none exist?"
"Underestimate the time/effort to complete a difficult task?"
These are just a few of the many examples.
mentions some fallacies in our thinking...
Do you....
"Base the credibility of an argument on its manner of presentation?"
"Give preferential treatment to those perceived to be group members?"
"See patterns where none exist?"
"Underestimate the time/effort to complete a difficult task?"
These are just a few of the many examples.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Unsolicited Advice
I love this short article on unsolicited advice. The quote I particularly agree with is:
"3 — The giver of unsolicited advice often makes the erroneous assumption that the receiver has goofed because of lack of knowledge.
What the giver does not realize is that the receiver either (a) does not agree with the giver’s opinion or (b) has made the error because of lack of time — or because fixing it is not a priority."
http://bly.com/blog/general/why-i-never-give-unsolicited-advice/
I've noticed a very common tendency among humans to dole out unsolicited advice. This behavior amuses me whenever I see it...simply for the reasons outlined in the above blog article.
"3 — The giver of unsolicited advice often makes the erroneous assumption that the receiver has goofed because of lack of knowledge.
What the giver does not realize is that the receiver either (a) does not agree with the giver’s opinion or (b) has made the error because of lack of time — or because fixing it is not a priority."
http://bly.com/blog/general/why-i-never-give-unsolicited-advice/
I've noticed a very common tendency among humans to dole out unsolicited advice. This behavior amuses me whenever I see it...simply for the reasons outlined in the above blog article.
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