Adams uses several techniques (listed in the post) that could be used to argue for any position—even one that I wholeheartedly agree with. I suspect that in such a case I might not be quite so enthusiastic to point out the flaws in the reasoning.
So that perhaps the following is not quite what you really did:
Where I disagree with you is the claim that attacking someone’s epistemological method is necessarily the same as attacking the positions they hold.
Maybe some of that extra enthusiasm leaks over into actual opposition to the person, like:
and he is the kind of figure we rationalists should know how to fight against.
Was Adams v. Harris a convenient vehicle to discuss the dangers of Dark Arts to epistemic rationality, or was a Dark Arts analysis a convenient vehicle for you to advocate opposition to Trump and Adams?
So please, contribute in the comments with your own observations about the Dark Arts involved here.
Have you stopped beating your wife yet?
I note this as one of the prime methods of the Dark Arts that one sees in the media all the time—the presupposition. I think it’s actually amazing effective. I simply can’t stand watching most talking head news media because the discussions presuppose some propagandistic talking point.
But to be even handed about this, I’ll give you an example of presupposition from Trump. It’s genius Dark Arts.
We’re going to win so much, you’re going to be so sick and tired of winning, you’re going to come to me and go ‘Please, please, we can’t win anymore.’ You’ve heard this one. You’ll say ‘Please, Mr. President, we beg you sir, we don’t want to win anymore. It’s too much. It’s not fair to everybody else.’”
From a dialectical standpoint, this is just absolute balderdash, silly and absurd. It’s just goofy.
But from a Dark Arts perspective, it’s amazing. The silliness disarms. Not only does he presuppose “winning”, he has exactly the same silliness going on within the presuppositions themselves, that we’ll all be begging to stop the winning, which again is rejected by the mind—“no, we won’t get tired of winning!”.
The dialectical mind thinks it is completely rejecting everything said, while underneath all that’s left is the feeling of winning, winning, and more winning.
And this is not just analysis. This is empirical observation. It worked. It is yuge. Go search twitter for “not tired of winning yet” and #somuchwinning. They’re basically “Hallelujah” for Trump supporters.
As a final note, I suggest that if you want to discuss the Dark Arts, find it in your side in politics. That way you can be sure you’re not just using it as an avenue to attack an enemy, and will give them every benefit of the doubt before casting the accusing finger and proclaiming “I spy Dark Arts!” And you may learn some weaknesses in your side’s arguments too.
So that perhaps the following is not quite what you really did:
Maybe some of that extra enthusiasm leaks over into actual opposition to the person, like:
Was Adams v. Harris a convenient vehicle to discuss the dangers of Dark Arts to epistemic rationality, or was a Dark Arts analysis a convenient vehicle for you to advocate opposition to Trump and Adams?
Have you stopped beating your wife yet?
I note this as one of the prime methods of the Dark Arts that one sees in the media all the time—the presupposition. I think it’s actually amazing effective. I simply can’t stand watching most talking head news media because the discussions presuppose some propagandistic talking point.
But to be even handed about this, I’ll give you an example of presupposition from Trump. It’s genius Dark Arts.
From a dialectical standpoint, this is just absolute balderdash, silly and absurd. It’s just goofy.
But from a Dark Arts perspective, it’s amazing. The silliness disarms. Not only does he presuppose “winning”, he has exactly the same silliness going on within the presuppositions themselves, that we’ll all be begging to stop the winning, which again is rejected by the mind—“no, we won’t get tired of winning!”.
The dialectical mind thinks it is completely rejecting everything said, while underneath all that’s left is the feeling of winning, winning, and more winning.
And this is not just analysis. This is empirical observation. It worked. It is yuge. Go search twitter for “not tired of winning yet” and #somuchwinning. They’re basically “Hallelujah” for Trump supporters.
As a final note, I suggest that if you want to discuss the Dark Arts, find it in your side in politics. That way you can be sure you’re not just using it as an avenue to attack an enemy, and will give them every benefit of the doubt before casting the accusing finger and proclaiming “I spy Dark Arts!” And you may learn some weaknesses in your side’s arguments too.