Think of their rebuttal before they do and already have the answer for
them! Or, even more fun, set up "straw men" for them to challenge so they
miss your real weakness. :-)
Gregg
It hadn't disappeared as of the time of my education--alas, some years
ago, now. The main thing it taught me was to be able to think on my
feet. You can not rely on notes but must be aware of what the opposing
side proposes.
JP
At 08:07 PM 11/05/2001 -0500, you wrote:
Andrew,
Do or did Australia have debating teams in school? We used to have them
in High School. That seems to have disappeared in the US. One of the
desirable outcomes that resulted in past generations of college graduates
was the ability to attack an idea and not the individual presenting
it. I see less of that happening in educational circles today.
Gregg
> Basically it just boils down to piss poor education. People simply aren't
>receiving the requisite training (education) to develop the sort of mental
>discipline needed to do better intellectually in a world as complex and
>demanding as the one we live in. It should be intuitive that when our
>intellectual processes break down one of the first positions of fallback
>is going to be our emotions, and at that juncture you're playing with
fire.
> Tris
If only. Education is not some magic bullet. Most people receive an
education designed to pass on a belief and value structure. Most people
want vocational training, rather than education - it's more 'userful.' Most
receipients simply don't have the mental furniture to deal with complex
arguments in an objective manner and so genuine criticism sideslips into
mere cynicism and scepticism. Most philosophers live dangerously - like my
former lunchtime companion Peter Singer at Princeton.
AndrewF
< This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
< For questions, mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >
< Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >
< This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
< For questions, mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >
< Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >
< This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
< For questions, mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >
< Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >
< This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
< For questions, mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >
< Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >
|