I think we all seem to be forgetting that the point of this article is to help us enage in more productive debates, in which two rational people who hold different beliefs on an issue come together and satisfy Aumann’s Agreement Theorem- which is to say, at least one person becomes persuaded to hold a different position from the one they started with. Presumably these people are aware of the relevant literature on the subject of their argument; the reason they’re on a forum (or comment section, etc.) instead of at their local library is that they want to engage directly with an actual proponent of another position. If they’re less than rational, they might be entering the argument to persuade others of their position, but nobody’s there for a suggested reading list. If neither opponent has anything to add besides a list of sources, then it’s not an argument- it’s a book club.
I think we all seem to be forgetting that the point of this article is to help us enage in more productive debates, in which two rational people who hold different beliefs on an issue come together and satisfy Aumann’s Agreement Theorem- which is to say, at least one person becomes persuaded to hold a different position from the one they started with.
Also, make sure that position is closer to the truth. Don’t forget that part.
And that’s another important point: Trading recommended reading lists does nothing to sift out the truth. You can find a number of books xor articles espousing virtually any position, but part of the function of a rational argument is to present arguments that respond effectively to the other person’s points. Anyone can just read books and devise brilliant refutations of the arguments therein; the real test is whether those brilliant refutations can withstand an intelligent, rational “opponent” who is willing and able to thoroughly deconstruct it from a perspective outside of your own mind.
I think we all seem to be forgetting that the point of this article is to help us enage in more productive debates, in which two rational people who hold different beliefs on an issue come together and satisfy Aumann’s Agreement Theorem- which is to say, at least one person becomes persuaded to hold a different position from the one they started with. Presumably these people are aware of the relevant literature on the subject of their argument; the reason they’re on a forum (or comment section, etc.) instead of at their local library is that they want to engage directly with an actual proponent of another position. If they’re less than rational, they might be entering the argument to persuade others of their position, but nobody’s there for a suggested reading list. If neither opponent has anything to add besides a list of sources, then it’s not an argument- it’s a book club.
Also, make sure that position is closer to the truth. Don’t forget that part.
And that’s another important point: Trading recommended reading lists does nothing to sift out the truth. You can find a number of books xor articles espousing virtually any position, but part of the function of a rational argument is to present arguments that respond effectively to the other person’s points. Anyone can just read books and devise brilliant refutations of the arguments therein; the real test is whether those brilliant refutations can withstand an intelligent, rational “opponent” who is willing and able to thoroughly deconstruct it from a perspective outside of your own mind.