Book title: The aims of of argument by Timothy W. Crusius and
Carolyn E. Channell
Quoted:
One way to understand argument as mature reasoning is to contrast
it with debate. In debate, opponents take a predetermined, usually
assigned side and attempt to defend it, in much the same way an
army or a football team must hold its ground. The point is to win,
to best one's opponent. In contrast, rather than starting with a
position to defend , mature reasoners think it through and evaluate
it rather than rush to its defense. To win is not to defeat an
opponent but rather to gain insight to the topic at hand. The
struggle is with the problem, question, or issue we confront.
Rather than seeking the favorable decision of the judges, as in
debate, we are after a sound opinion in which we can believe - an
opinion consistent with the facts and that other people will
respect and take seriously.
Of course, having arrive at an opinion that seems sound to us, we
still must make out case- argue in the sense of providing good
reasons and adequate evidence in support of them. But whereas
debaters must hold their positions at all costs, mature reasoners
may not. The very process of making a case will often show us that
what we thought was sound really isn't. We try to defend our
opinion until and find that we can't - or at least try, not very
well. And so we rethink our position until we arrive at one for
which we can make a good case. From beginning to end, therefore,
mature reasoning is a process of discovery.
Author information:
Quoted:
Timothy W. Crusius is profesor of English at Southern Methodist
University, where he teaches beginning and advanced composition.
He's the author of books on discourse theory, philosophical
hermeneutics, and Kenneth Burker.
PS: took fifteen minutes to type it out from the book i have.