Issue79 Claim: The best test of an argument is itsability to convince someone with an opposing viewpoint. Reason: Only by being forced to defend anidea against the doubts and contrasting views of others does one reallydiscover the value of that idea. Writea response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree withthe claim and the reason on which that claim is base Inthis issue, the author claims that the best way of an argument is its abilityto convince someone with an opposing viewpoint, because only being forced todefend an idea against the doubts and contrasting views of others one really discoversthe value of that idea. While at first glance the claim and reason may seemsuperficially reasonable, I don’t completely agree with them Insome extent, I agree that convincing some with an opposing point is availableto test an argument. As is known to us, convincing the dissenters requires younot only hold your own standing clearly but you should recognize the viewpointsof the opposed side. In this case, you can get a good chance to re-consider thesupported and take remedies to make the argument more convincible. For example,when the definition of Carbon Equivalent (CE), an important jargon intechnology of welding, was put forward, it incurred quantities of debates aboutits availability to evaluate the hardness of metal materials. It had beenrevised many times by scientists from Japan for poor comprehensive before wildlyused. However,I don’t concede convincing someone with an opposing viewpoint is the best testof an argument. Only if an argument is inherently reasonable and logical, or itwill be demonstrate absurd. Sometimes some wrong ideas can be suddenly taken astrue according to eloquence that likely neglects its logic, which can mess withour minds and consequently cause confusion. This kind of argument is vulnerableand easily attacked. Eminent argument can be persuasive always for its immanentrationality instead of convincing the groups with opposing viewpoint usingeloquence. Take the idea as example, there are no identical leaves in the world,to prove it, public speaker may take human as an analogy, but available argumentcan be done by analyzing the difference of leaves’ cells and tissues. Moreover,I don’t completely agree with the reason raised in this issue: only by being forced to defend an idea against the doubts andcontrasting views of others does one really discover the value of that idea. Asa matter of fact, the value of an idea determines whether it can be practiced.During the period of Great Leap Forward 19505, one Chinese scientist assertedthat it is possible that 20 thousand kilograms grain with the knowledge of physics,Even in modern society with advanced science and technology, it is hard torealize let alone fifty years ago. Any idea beyond practice, it cannot beregarded valuable. To sum up, convincing someone with an opposingviewpoint is available to test an argument, but it is not necessarily the bestway. A true argument is of inherent logic and a valuable should be able to beput into practice. |