Talking About Talking

On Productive Discourse

(CARROLLTON-Cradle of Civilization) - A productive conversation can be had arguing from the specific to the universal, or from the universal to the specific (though another step might be involved in that discussion) but very little can happen arguing from the general to the general. Discussions of this type amount to simply matters of opinion - people who favor this level of discussion generally are working from a presumption that all opinions have equal validity. This is demonstrably not so, for a person can have the opinion that 2 + 2 = 5.

In order to get past opinion you have to deal with specifics and universals. Otherwise you are farting in the wind.

farting cow

You may wrinkle someone’s nose, but that is the extent of your influence.