Tag Archives: logic

Brands, Halos, and Life

Posted on by
1

It takes a while, maybe even a few years, but eventually—after the destruction of the second death star, after the death of the Emperor and after Nien Nunb and Lando are cackling—you start wondering about who you were rooting for. These insurgents not only bucked under the authority of Government but they joined hands with criminals as they slaughter thousands of innocent lives.  It didn’t matter though since we knew these were The Good Guys. They were the Rebel Alliance, and with their brand firmly in place (and the standard production that goes into setting up the protagonist of any given movie) the audience happily stands and applauds. But I remember also applauding at the end of the Phantom Menace…

Continue reading →

Laws of E-Debate

Posted on by
1

Many years ago, so the story goes, Newton was bopped on the head by a falling apple and immediately came up with several Laws of Physics. Years later, Einstein was bopped in the head with Time and came up with the Law of Relativity. On the Internet forum I participate in, I have been verbally bopped enough times to unearth the Laws Of E-Debate which are just as foundational to any Laws of Thermodynamics and probably just as provable. Maybe on your jaunts through message forums and online debates you will find these Laws coming to the fore.

Now what you may find is that these Laws might have some proper applicability in some scenarios—yet you may also realize that sometimes, they’re just embarrassing refusals to engage the opposing position properly.

Continue reading →

Begging Which Question?

Posted on by
5

Once upon a time, folk would stand in a circle, before an audience, and debate things. No, not Jerry Springer. I’m talking about the Old Days before TV. To establish the grounds for the debate the two folk arguing would first state what they’re arguing for (or against) and then proceed with given statements.

The point they were arguing for (or against) was called The Question. Each of the givens would be the premises which the debater would use as a starting point for his argument.

Continue reading →

Words That Never Prove Your Point

Posted on by
Reply

You ever been to work or maybe a message board when someone has an argument and proves their point in such a way that you’re left scratching your head? Or maybe you have siblings that have triumphantly left the room and you don’t know why: it feels like they won but you’re not sure? Or maybe, you’re the culprit of using tactics that make you feel icky when arguing but for all intents and purposes it looks like you always win. We all do it and often you see it on The Internets more than anywhere else. Here then is my list of argument mishaps that don’t prove your point–even if your point is technically right on.

Continue reading →