it’s unclear to me that simply expressing disagreement politely is enough to be considered criticism.
I don’t think it would have been. Criticism is a direct attack: “X is wrong because of arguments w, y, z… (wow, wasn’t he dumb to fall for that belief)?” Expressing disagreement is more like saying “I think that y, for reasons w and z.” Which leaves a lot less open for criticism.
I don’t think it would have been. Criticism is a direct attack: “X is wrong because of arguments w, y, z… (wow, wasn’t he dumb to fall for that belief)?” Expressing disagreement is more like saying “I think that y, for reasons w and z.” Which leaves a lot less open for criticism.