People claim there are no good arguments because somebody can always reject (one or more) premises linked to a conclusion. In other words, there are no arguments that compel people to embrace a particular conclusion. Perhaps (and only perhaps), but this misses the overall point of argumentation, as least in their practical role. The purpose of an argument is to pick out tensions in a person’s position or worldview, then offer a reasonable resolution.
What Is a "Good" Argument?
People claim there are no good arguments because somebody can always reject (one or more) premises linked to a conclusion. In other words, there are no arguments that compel people to embrace a particular conclusion. Perhaps (and only perhaps), but this misses the overall point of argumentation, as least in their practical role. The purpose of an argument is to pick out tensions in a person’s position or worldview, then offer a reasonable resolution.