Hm, I think higher up the hierarchy of abstraction is generally bad, when it comes to disagreements. People so easily get trapped into arguing because someone else is arguing back, and it’s even easier when you’re not being concrete.
Ah, okay. I still think you have to be careful of degenerating into bad stuff anyhow—if the argument becomes about cherry-picking rather than the evidence, that could be worse than arguing without those sources.
Which one on the list is appeal to authority or quotation of a piece of text one is not himself qualified to understand? (i only briefly skimmed and didn’t really see it). (Looks like DH1 is the only one mentioning references to authorities, in the way of accusation of lack of authority).
DH4, argument. Pointing out what authorities say on the question is contradiction (the authorities contradict your claim) plus evidence (which authorities where).
Cherry picking, combined with typically putting words into authorities mouths. But I agree that if it is an accepted consensus rather than cherry-picked authorities, then it’s pretty effective. (edit: Unfortunately of course, one probably knows of the consensus long before the argument)
Hm, I think higher up the hierarchy of abstraction is generally bad, when it comes to disagreements. People so easily get trapped into arguing because someone else is arguing back, and it’s even easier when you’re not being concrete.
I didn’t say abstraction, I said disagreement.
Ah, okay. I still think you have to be careful of degenerating into bad stuff anyhow—if the argument becomes about cherry-picking rather than the evidence, that could be worse than arguing without those sources.
Which one on the list is appeal to authority or quotation of a piece of text one is not himself qualified to understand? (i only briefly skimmed and didn’t really see it). (Looks like DH1 is the only one mentioning references to authorities, in the way of accusation of lack of authority).
DH4, argument. Pointing out what authorities say on the question is contradiction (the authorities contradict your claim) plus evidence (which authorities where).
Cherry picking, combined with typically putting words into authorities mouths. But I agree that if it is an accepted consensus rather than cherry-picked authorities, then it’s pretty effective. (edit: Unfortunately of course, one probably knows of the consensus long before the argument)