How Engaging in Argument Can be Healthy

[bobbcat]

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Exerpt:

In his book "The Revolt of the Elites," the late Christopher Lasch wrote that only in the course of argument do "we come to understand what we know and what we still need to learn ... we come to know our own minds only by explaining ourselves to others." If we wish to be engaged in serious argument, Lasch explained, we must enter into another person's mental universe and put our own ideas at risk.

Exactly. When a friend launches an argument and your rebuttal starts to sound tinny to your own ears, it shouldn't be that hard to figure out that something's wrong -- usually that you don't really agree with the words coming out of your own mouth. Arguing can rescue us from our own half-formed opinions.

So......let the others know what you think instead of walking away mad.

[prism68]

Originally Posted by bobbcat

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Exerpt:

So......let the others know what you think instead of walking away mad.

So true! That is the power of debate teams and such, that is why I am forming a debate club in the Fall. Children (and adults) need to be able to defend what they believe.
So many of us walk around spouting off ideals about things which we've never thought anything about. By arguing our points, it forces us to evaluate the truths as well as the errors in our thinking.