Thinking perhaps some lighter fare would do some good on here (and recalling Stocken’s spiritual humor thread), I thought I would have a go with some of the forms of argument that we seem to see on this forum (including some that I have, embarrassingly, fallen prey to myself). I have removed any mention of any particular religious/spiritual/philosophical viewpoints. (I have left out the “secret decoder ring” argument, since we’re all familiar with it.)
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1. Ring Around the Authority
“I believe it because A says it.”
“Why do you believe A?”
“Because A’s infallible.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because A says so itself...”
2. Argument from Terribleness
“But, but—it must be true!”
“Why ‘must’ it be?”
“Because—otherwise it would be just terrible.”
3. The Refrigerator Argument
“There’s a unicorn in your refrigerator.”
“No there isn’t.”
“Yes there is.”
“Isn’t.”
“Is.”
“Isn’t.”
“Just go look.”
Goes and looks; comes back. “Nope, none there.”
“Well, he won’t show himself while the door’s open...”
4. Argument from Non-sense (particularly Zen)
“What is the sound of one hand clapping?”
“One hand can’t clap by itself.”
“There. You see?”
5. The Lemming Argument
“A million lemmings can’t all be wrong.”
(Yes, I realize it is a myth that lemmings commit mass suicide; they just have poor eyesight.)
6. Mystical Practices
“They’re such powerful experiences...”
“Yes, dear, but if you keep it up you’ll go blind.”
7. Mystical Visions
“Frodo spoke to me in a dream.”
“No—you dreamed that Frodo spoke to you.”
“But his message was so profound, and he knew all about me...”
“Well, it was your dream. Then again, that Frodo is a clever one...”
8. Argument from the Floating Idol
“Would you take away somebody’s totem pole when they’re desperately clinging to it in a raging river because they can’t swim?”
I ain’t going to touch that one... (think vaudevillian)
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Additions, please...? I’ll read them when I get back....
A1: Your argument is flawed because of [utterly conclusive reason].
B2: Well, I am entitled to my opinion.
A2: Well, actually, you're not entitled to your opinion. After all, entitlements have to be earned. Unless you can back up your position with appropriate argument, evidence, and logic, then you haven't earned the right to hold your opinion, have you?
Originally posted by vistesd Thinking perhaps some lighter fare would do some good on here (and recalling Stocken’s spiritual humor thread), I thought I would have a go with some of the forms of argument that we seem to see on this forum (including some that I have, embarrassingly, fallen prey to myself). I have removed any mention of any particular religious/spiritual/philosophical vi ...[text shortened]... ___________________________________
Additions, please...? I’ll read them when I get back....
Originally posted by Pawnokeyhole [b]The Entitlement Deflection
A1: Your argument is flawed because of [utterly conclusive reason].
B2: Well, I am entitled to my opinion.
A2: Well, actually, you're not entitled to your opinion. After all, entitlements have to be earned. Unless you can back up your position with appropriate argument, evidence, and logic, then you have ...[text shortened]... he right to hold your opinion, have you?
B2: Well, you are entitled to your opinion.[/b]
rec'd! I'm going to collect all these when it's done. 🙂
Argumentum Spiritualensis (not serious!)
02 Aug '06 13:312 edits
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