I do not really believe that one can convince another person of a philosophical point to which they are constitutionally opposed. That is to say, at best we have a conversation, and we come to understand the context of our interlocutors’ convictions, but because in philosophy there are seldom indubitable rights and wrongs, there is never a guarantee of understanding, never mind consensus. So what transpires is we translate our rationalizations into the language of reason, we divest decision-making of the emotion inherent to it, pretending it isn’t there – and even if it were there, we say, it’s not important. Then we play you show me yours, and I’ll show you mine with these rationalizations. This sounds a little tragic, as though I have no hope in philosophy or conversation, but I don’t think pessimism necessarily follows.
We all know the benefits of debate in a “civilized” context as replacing the settlement of disagreement through violence. Often, however, we do not settle disagreement. So what happens then? I assume we have all had that experience in conversation or debate, where we make a point in passing which we regard to be innocuous, only for it to be turned around on us, and given a spin which we would never have thought possible. Continue reading
Wetwiring 