“I’m right, you’re wrong!” You pick the subject…

“I’m right, you’re wrong!” You pick the subject…

Why do we feel the need to debate everything? Is it worse when we are young? Or does it intensify as we get older?

After all…”A lack of historical sense is the congenital defect of all philosophers... They will not understand that man has evolved... there are no eternal facts, nor are there any absolute truths." Author: Friedrich Nietzsche, Human, All Too Human, 1878, 1 & 2

Was Nietzsche right? If so, what’s the point of debating?

Or how about CS Lewis when he said, “You will never know how much you believe something until it is a matter of life and death.” “If you think of this world as a place intended simply for our happiness, you find it quite intolerable: think of it as a place of training and correction and it’s not so bad.” – Source: God in the Dock, page 52.

So…in what ways does…what happens TO us SHAPE us…our beliefs, that is?

And what do you think of Carl Sagan’s "baloney detection” list when it comes to debating. Source: www.examiner.com...

Here are the highlights:
• Wherever possible there must be independent confirmation of the facts
• Encourage substantive debate on the evidence by knowledgeable proponents of all points of view.
• Arguments from authority carry little weight (in science there are no "authorities").
• Spin more than one hypothesis - don't simply run with the first idea that caught your fancy.
• Try not to get overly attached to a hypothesis just because it's yours.
• Quantify, wherever possible.
• If there is a chain of argument every link in the chain must work.
• "Occam's razor" - if there are two hypotheses that explain the data equally, choose the simpler.
• Ask whether the hypothesis can, at least in principle, be falsified (shown to be false by some unambiguous test). In other words, is it testable? Can others duplicate the experiment and get the same result?

Let’s Debate “debate”

OT
"Now that I am a Christian I do have moods in which the whole thing looks improbable: but when I was an atheist I had moods in which Christianity looked terribly probable." – CS Lewis, Mere Christianity

"Is this the office of arguments?
No.
But it says it is on the sign on your door...
no it doesn't
yes ..It does
No it doesn't...
Listen, I came here for an arguement...
No you didn't.."
approximation of an old Monty Python Skit....

But if you want to argue with me, I'll start...
You're right, I'm wrong...

Your go.

For me the 'I'm right you're wrong' is pure 'mind candy'!
Or to be more politically correct I should say 'mind aerobics'...

I really enjoy a good debate, if not a down right argument. It's just what makes me who I am. My fiance and I? Hell, we'd switch sides half way through a 'discussion' just to see what we could do on the other side of the fence.

Great thread, I can't wait to see what others have to say! S&F!

peace

EDIT TO ADD:

reply to post by Danbones

Your above post reminds me I've been wanting to tell you I really enjoy your posts.

peace

[edit on 23-7-2010 by silo13]

Since we are debating DEBATE, I thought I'd throw up a definition...after all we wouldn't want to get our terms wrong

n.
1. A discussion involving opposing points; an argument.
2. Deliberation; consideration: passed the motion with little debate.
3. A formal contest of argumentation in which two opposing teams defend and attack a given proposition.
4. Obsolete Conflict; strife.

Link: www.thefreedictionary.com...

Originally posted by Danbones
"Is this the office of arguments?
No.
But it says it is on the sign on your door...
no it doesn't
yes ..It does
No it doesn't...
Listen, I came here for an arguement...
No you didn't.."
approximation of an old Monty Python Skit....

But if you want to argue with me, I'll start...
You're right, I'm wrong...

Your go.

I was always partial crossing the Bridge of Death by answering three questions correctly MP bit... "I don't know that" over he went...

Clever reply friend

reply to post by OldThinker


This is great too:

On Debate

I particularly liked the points under:

Do not impute ridiculous or malevolent ideas to your opponent.

Another example is to say that nudists "prance around" in the nude. Of course it's inaccurate, but it ridicules and denigrates as well and shouldn't be allowed in a rational debate.

PS - This used to pertain to me pretty well. Sometimes I'd get so, well, errrrr, 'passionate' about an argument I'd get personal.

I've grown up since then...

I hope...

peace

Edit = html

[edit on 23-7-2010 by silo13]

Originally posted by silo13
....I really enjoy a good debate, if not a down right argument. It's just what makes me who I am. My fiance and I? Hell, we'd switch sides half way through a 'discussion' just to see what we could do on the other side of the fence.....

Excellent!

When it comes to my other-half, I can br RIGHT or HAPPY, but not BOTH!

reply to post by OldThinker


Just for the sake of arguement,




[edit on 23-7-2010 by DCDAVECLARKE]

Originally posted by silo13
.......PS - This used to pertain to me pretty well. Sometimes I'd get so, well, errrrr, 'passionate' about an argument I'd get personal.

I've grown up since then...

I hope...

Great point here....

I wonder if we chronicled the millions of ATS posts and opinions, could we track significant differences in each person's beliefs over time? Does "maturity" matter, umm?

reply to post by DCDAVECLARKE



What a great post!!

Thank you, it was hilarious


Star to ya!

btw, ur wrong!

So far, half of you are wrong, and you suck eggs.

The rest of you are my great friends and I love you to death!

You figure out which are which.

IMHO
If a person can't be open, or adaptable to facts as they arrive...
Well, one of the attributes of humanity is supposed to be an ability to adapt...

As much as I hate to appear wrong, I have to admit that standing corrected is just that...
What ever doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.

The only man who never made any mistakes is the man who never did anything...

Here we are also arguing before spectators in addition to debating personally, so there is a third party being played to, so forum debating is also performance art as well.

I really enjoy a well put together thread or post...
and sometimes the rare one liner that says it all...
but mostly I enjoy interacting with thoughtful writers.
I love some of the writers here and have become a real fan of some of them.

I like to take the best of what I find here and bring it back to the real world where I live...this is a trait of the mythical hero...bringing back things from the spirit world is an ancient tradition amongst shamanistic types and cultural heroes.

And being proved wrong is like
football in the groin...
after the third or fourth time...
It no longer knocks you down.


edit for FandS

[edit on 23-7-2010 by Danbones]

[edit on 23-7-2010 by Danbones]

[edit on 23-7-2010 by Danbones]

I say that X+9 = X+9. You're right, I'm wrong. Please explain.

[edit on 23/7/2010 by Dark Ghost]

reply to post by Dark Ghost


waaaaiiit a minute
X+9 does NOT = x+9 point Y
well 9 out of ten times anyway



[edit on 23-7-2010 by Danbones]

Y = f (X)

OT

ASQ LSSMBB

Originally posted by Danbones
......I really enjoy a well put together thread or post...
and sometimes the rare one liner that says it all...
but mostly I enjoy interacting with thoughtful writers.
I love some of the writers here and have become a real fan of some of them......

DB, I second your point here!

ATS has great contributors...

reply to post by OldThinker


Ok I'll bite.
Underoos Superman and Batman.
I choose Batman underoos, your move!

Originally posted by g146541
reply to post by OldThinker

 

Ok I'll bite.
Underoos Superman and Batman.
I choose Batman underoos, your move!

In combo with the shirt

See:

reply to post by OldThinker


AAAAAH I AM VANQUISHED!!!
curse you.
Good play.
I tried though, and that serves you right for saying we have good contributers
No truly we do, but yeah at times it seems some are having a bad day and go gnutz.

Originally posted by g146541
...but yeah at times it seems some are having a bad day and go gnutz.

Yeah, I know...

I've been around here for a while....and in all reality these subjects are intense...

The part I love the best in the "international" flavor we are exposed to, folks from all over making points makes a more-rounded poster/thinker.