Arguing with People
When I was younger, I enjoyed a good argument. But, as I grow older, I have discovered over many years this usually only backfires. There are people who already have made up their minds about even what a "fact" is. If it doesn't agree with what they feel, no matter the evidence, it cannot be "a fact." Before discussion can occur, people need to agree on definitions. If people can't agree on a definition, there is no basis for further useful discussion..it just turns into entrenched arguing. Even "facts" are up for dispute if people cannot agree on mutually agreed upon sources, such as a dictionary.
The essential problem is epistemology...how do we know what we know? intuition? authority? divine revelation? empirical observation (which also has personal filters)? logic? Only some of these things provide common ground, and we need common ground to begin talking about things. Starting with an argument goes nowhere.
No, people are generally not rational once their emotions are engaged. So once people are emotional (and in emotional times, this seems to be perpetual), give it up. It will just degenerate into a shouting match, no one will change their mind or consider another point of view. Let people calm down and then look for common ground ---even if the only common ground is, "I want to see if we have any common ground".
The essential problem is epistemology...how do we know what we know? intuition? authority? divine revelation? empirical observation (which also has personal filters)? logic? Only some of these things provide common ground, and we need common ground to begin talking about things. Starting with an argument goes nowhere.
No, people are generally not rational once their emotions are engaged. So once people are emotional (and in emotional times, this seems to be perpetual), give it up. It will just degenerate into a shouting match, no one will change their mind or consider another point of view. Let people calm down and then look for common ground ---even if the only common ground is, "I want to see if we have any common ground".