22 Words

Experiments in getting to the point.

What should our main goal be when we’re disagreeing? Winning or learning?

April 9, 2008 at 9:00 am · Filed under Constructive Criticism, Following Jesus, Questions

Should our objective when we’re arguing be to convince others of our position or to discover what’s true, regardless of who “wins”?

11 Comments »

  Really Robin wrote @ April 9, 2008 at 9:11 am

Yes, and yes.

  Sam James wrote @ April 9, 2008 at 9:23 am

Has this become 22 Topics?

http://twentytwowords.com/2008/03/27/when-arguing-it%e2%80%99s-better-to-be-convincible-than-invincible/
;)

  Leslie wrote @ April 9, 2008 at 9:27 am

That may be the most profound thing I have ever read.

~Leslie

  Abraham Piper wrote @ April 9, 2008 at 9:47 am

Sam, you’re paying good attention.

  Peter Eddy wrote @ April 9, 2008 at 10:28 am

I’m surprised that your mother hasn’t corrected the title of your entry yet. You got it right in the entry, but it’s supposed to be “our” and not “are” in the title.

Good truth, nonetheless.

  Abraham Piper wrote @ April 9, 2008 at 10:30 am

Ha! Peter, thanks for the correction. I do that kind of thing all the time. Apparently, I write phonetically.

  Josh S. wrote @ April 9, 2008 at 10:52 am

I would hope it’s always discovering what is true. What’s the point of winning if it’s not true? But of course both are parts of an argument, otherwise it wouldn’t be an argument.

The most helpful conversations I’ve had and seen is when both sides try to understand the other in order to discover truth. Sometimes one side is much closer to the truth; other times, both are wrong and a synthesis is achieved.

The worst conversations I’ve had and seen is when both sides don’t understand each other, don’t try to, think the other is a fool, and are angry at the other’s perspective.

  Tyler K. wrote @ April 9, 2008 at 11:22 am

I think Josh agrees with Hegel.

  Josh S. wrote @ April 9, 2008 at 11:43 am

I don’t remember reading anyone more boring than Hegel. I don’t think I understood anything he was talking about. If I agree with him, it’s quite accidental, I assure you.

I would probably agree more with Socratic dialectic than Hegalian. But really it’s all over my head.

  Melissa wrote @ April 10, 2008 at 6:28 am

Learning. Even when I whole-heartedly disagree with someone, I am always fascinated with their views…where they’re coming from, what brought them to that conclusion, etc. It helps us to understand others, especially those on opposite sides on very important issues. It gives us compassion, without needing to agree.

  The Boar’s Head Tavern » 22 Words wrote @ April 11, 2008 at 1:15 pm

[...] like a reflection on the death of a child and the resurrection or thoughtful things like this reflection on blog wars,perhaps? At first I feared that it might be like reading the elder Piper (not that there’s [...]

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