I'm planning a third edition of my book Thinking from A to Z.This is an alphabetically arranged digest of moves in argument. If anyone out there has suggestions for new entries, or has spotted flaws in what I've already written, I'd be very grateful for your comments. Read a review of the 2nd edition. And another one.
Here is a list of the new entries I'm considering already...further ideas for entries and examples of any of these very welcome.
charity (principle of), counterargument, elenchus,'it's true for me' (see relativism),lawyer's answer (= misleading without lying - e.g. Clinton's comment on his relations with Lewinski), least worst option,objectivity, self-contradiction, sentimentality, stonewalling,tautology,truism, truth by metaphor, truth by repetition, weasel words, 'you would say that wouldn't you'
How about the mathematician's 'proof by intimidation'?
Find a statement from which, if true, your desired conclusion would follow automatically. Assert the truth of this initial statement, starting with the word 'Obviously..'
There are many variations on the theme.
Posted by: Vronsky | April 23, 2007 at 01:45 PM