Chapter 4- Opposition
Argument is not a monologue. Argument is about engagement, tension, and friction among claims.
Counterarguments- refute claims or positions opposed to those that the writer or speaker is forwarding. Good arguers counterargue.
When counterarguing, writers should be cautious of tossing aside the opposition too quickly.
Concession- acknowledges or grants value to an opposing claim. Arguers who simply ignore, dismiss, or explain away ideas that challenge their own are simplifying arguments instead of dealing with complexities.
Conceding certain points and qualifying others are important strategies for strengthening an argument.
Qualifiers- focus on the arguer’s ideas, acknowledging their limitations. Ex: “I’m not saying that all politicians are bad, but many of them seem to distort the truth.”
Qualifiers make claims more reasonable and potentially worthy of public attention. Ex: “When distracted by cell phones and stereos, even the most attentive teenager can become a rotten driver.”
Rogerian Argument- Arguers should first seek to understand opposing views. Once we know the terrain of our opponents, we can build a bridge to it. The goal is not to attack the opponents’ thinking, but to discover key similarities between our perspectives and theirs.