lesson one: why we argue
TRANSCRIPT
Lesson OneWhy We Argue
Neijiang Normal University - Instructor: Brent A. Simoneaux
Our main focus for this semester will be on writing essays. Particularly, we will focus on
argumentative essays.
We will cover chapters 5, 6, and 8 in our text.
Semester Objective
By the end of this lesson, you should know:
• What argument is
• Why we argue
• How culture might create obstacles when writing argument
Today’s Objectives
Take 5 minutes to write a definition and an example to
illustrate.
Do not use your dictionary.
argument
“The aim or purpose of argument is to use logic (both inductive and deductive) to
create reasoned communication of ideas, insights, and experiences to some audience
so as to produce a new understanding of some issue for that audience.”
So, what is argument?{argument}
{argument}What argument is not:
1. Argument is not confrontation.
{argument}What argument is not:
2. Argument is not opinion.
{argument}What argument is not:
3. Argument is not disagreement about fact.
{argument}What argument is not:
4. Argument is not synonymous with formal or classic logic.
A question of degree
{argument}
exposition argumentation persuasion
Purpose: informative
Purpose: interpretive
and informative
Purpose: less informative more persuasive
Spectrum of Writing Purposes
A question of degree{argument}
Spectrum of Content
exposition argumentation persuasion
facts facts + analysis emotional / irrational
grocery lists
manuals
business letters
academic essays
political writing
advertising
A question of degree{argument}
The spectrum of writing illustrates two useful concepts:
1. As the writer’s purpose moves from pure exposition toward persuasion, it incorporates many of the elements of the types of writing that precedes it.
A question of degree{argument}
The spectrum of writing illustrates two useful concepts:
2. One type of writing may fall in different classifications along the spectrum because classification is determined by the purpose of the writer and the needs of the audience. (ie: scientific paper)
{argument}
It is important to remember that argumentative essays involve the use of logic and teach much more than research
of a subject.
{argument}This is where it becomes difficult for students, especially Eastern students.
Given what you now know about argument, what do you think are some
cultural obstacles that you might encounter when writing argumentative
essays?
{argument}
The Biggest Cultural Obstacle
Logic is essentially a western construct.
“…The most striking difference between the traditions at the two ends of the civilized world is
in the destiny of logic. For the West, logic has been central and the thread of transmission has
never snapped…”
-Philosopher Angus Graham
{argument}
1. Independent
{argument}Logic
Aristotle
The Greeks thought of themselves as:
2. Individuals with distinctive properties
{argument}Logic
Aristotle
The Greeks thought of themselves as:
3. Units separate from others in society
{argument}Logic
Aristotle
The Greeks thought of themselves as:
4. In control of their own destinies
{argument}Logic
Aristotle
The Greeks thought of themselves as:
Similarly, Greek philosophy regarded the object in isolation as the proper focus of
attention and analysis.
{argument}Logic
This led to a move toward abstraction and distrust of the senses.
{argument}Logic
For example, Aristotle thought of attributes as having a reality distinct from their
concrete embodiments.
{argument}Logic
In other words, it was meaningful for Aristotle to speak not just of a solid object, but of attributes in the abstract and to have
theories about these abstractions.
{argument}Logic
• Woodenness
• Brownness
• Sturdiness
• Solidness
{argument}Logic
Aristotle would then analyze
these attributes and create
theories about them.
{argument}
The world, then, is in principle
simple and knowable.
{argument}Logic
All one has to do is understand an
object’s distinctive attributes so as to
identify its relevant categories and then
apply a certain theory to the category.
{argument}Logic
{argument}Logic
Think about the implications of all of this:
We have this entire culture of people who (1) believe that the world is in principle simple and knowable; (2) love abstract ideas and theories; and
(3) think of themselves as individual and separate.
{argument}Logic
debate
{argument}Logic
Argument was used in debate to communicate ideas, insights, and experiences to the audience
so as to produce new understanding.
Logic was developed as one of the main tools of debate.
{argument}Logic
Debate is still a very important element of Western culture.
• Politics
{argument}Logic
{argument}Logic
Debate is still a very important element of Western culture.
• Politics
• Academia
• Daily life
{argument}Logic
What about Chinese philosophy and culture?
{argument}Logic
There were two short-lived movements of little influence in the East that had a similar spirit of logical inquiry as the
West:
• Ming jia
• Mohists
{argument}Logic
Chinese social life was interdependent and
characterized by harmony.
(Taoists: Man & nature)
(Confucians: Man & Man)
{argument}Logic
Similarly, the Way, and not the discovery of truth, was
the goal of philosophy. Thought that gave no
guidance to action was considered fruitless.
{argument}Logic
The world was complicated, events were interrelated, and objects
(and people) were connected not as pieces of a pie, but as ropes in a net.
{argument}Logic
Complexity and interrelation meant for the Chinese that any attempt to understand something
without appreciation of its context was doomed.
{argument}Logic
{argument}Logic
“The aim of the Chinese classical education has always been the
cultivation of the reasonable man as the model of education. An
educated man should, above all, be a reasonable being, who is always
characterized by his common sense, his love of moderation and
restraint, and his hatred of abstract theories and logical extremes.”
-Literary critic Lin Yutang
{argument}Logic
This semester, we are going to be learning how to think as well as write.
{argument}Logic
Why do we argue?
To create a dialogue in an effort to discover truth.
HomeworkThink about an argumentative essay topic that you are interested in and curious about. Write down your general topic and bring it to class next week. We’ll work on making it more
specific later.
HomeworkChoose any object that you use in your daily life (look in your pockets, dorm room, purse, wallet, etc.) Study this object; look at it very
closely. Now, write one paragraph to describe it in detail. Use your imagination.
Use your Writing Notebook. Due: next week.
Next Week:
Invention