This is similar to something I had started in my drafts folder. I guess it now belongs better as a comment here:
Distracting Honesty
A behavior of written argument is to anticipate an objection and answer it before the opposition can raise it against you. A similar, slipperier act is to simply acknowledge a weakness and never bring it up again.
There are various examples of this but an obvious one can be found in my confession. My claim is that I want to be Rational. The objection is, “But you believe in God!” So, before anyone gets to point that out, I bring it up, confess it, and move on while claiming I will address it in the future.
All of this is completely honest, but beware lest it acts as a curiosity stopper. A point addressed by an author with a claim of solutions in the future isn’t grounds for dismissal of the point.
This isn’t to say I have changed my mind and will be opening my worldview for public display. I happen to think I have a good reason for ignoring the elephant in the room and can merrily dodge requests for details. But if someone throws me a ringer by asking anyway, it may do me some good. After all, my rationality is your business.
The point: Honesty is an easy ping of following in EY’s list above:
Appeal to humility;
Appeal to common guilt;
Appeal to inner privacy;
This is similar to something I had started in my drafts folder. I guess it now belongs better as a comment here:
Distracting Honesty
A behavior of written argument is to anticipate an objection and answer it before the opposition can raise it against you. A similar, slipperier act is to simply acknowledge a weakness and never bring it up again.
There are various examples of this but an obvious one can be found in my confession. My claim is that I want to be Rational. The objection is, “But you believe in God!” So, before anyone gets to point that out, I bring it up, confess it, and move on while claiming I will address it in the future.
All of this is completely honest, but beware lest it acts as a curiosity stopper. A point addressed by an author with a claim of solutions in the future isn’t grounds for dismissal of the point.
This isn’t to say I have changed my mind and will be opening my worldview for public display. I happen to think I have a good reason for ignoring the elephant in the room and can merrily dodge requests for details. But if someone throws me a ringer by asking anyway, it may do me some good. After all, my rationality is your business.
The point: Honesty is an easy ping of following in EY’s list above:
I usually call this lampshading, and I’ll link this comment to explain what I mean. Thanks!