posted on Nov, 21 2008 @ 05:46 PM
As a relative newcomer to ATS, I hope that I'm not being impolite or overstepping bounds in proposing this and I hope that I'm not duplicating the
work of other posters. If I've done so, please feel free to move or lock the thread as appropriate (not that moderators need my permission to do
so).
The idea here is to provide a neutral territory where members of the community can come to test the waters of their thought processes and rhetoric.
Moreover, I'd like this to be a place where a member can quote arguments of others and ask for assistance in deconstructing their logical merit.
I've noticed that many members of the community are familiar with the concept of logical process and logical fallacies. I think the entire community
stands to benefit from more rigorous debate practices regardless of the specific point being argued or which side a person may be arguing on.
I'd like this thread to be a place where, without contagion from another thread, a community member can post specific examples of an argument, a
thought process, an exchange, and ask for assistance in deconstructing the logical elements. So if others are game, I'd propose these ground
rules:
- If you are quoting another member or a post from another forum, please do not quote the source. Again, this compromises a neutral,
no-threat environment. The idea is to evaluate ideas on their merit minus personalities and egos.
- If someone asks about the logical veracity of something you've said in another thread, you shouldn't respond to them. That would compromise a
neutral, no-threat environment for learning about logic and rhetoric. Besides, it might be enlightening to simply watch what others have to say.
- This shouldn't be a place for scolding or lecturing (in a non-scholarly way). Questions from the "less learned" should be met with a
willingness to share knowledge and insight. If you're not feeling patient, perhaps you should save your post for later.
- We should stick to formal definitions and ideally source them so that people can read more about why you interpret a logical construct the way that
you do.
- This is not about a fact checking. Analyzing an argument and showing that a premise isn't true because the facts are in dispute is a gray
territory. It's probably best simply to tell the poster that the argument may be suspect simply because the premise isn't sufficiently
established.
Here are some links I've found helpful:
I will keep an eye on this thread and do my best to pitch in should anyone bring arguments for the analyzing!