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有保留的反对 (1)这个观点有一定道理,特别是在一些质疑大众观点的情况 (2)但是,有时候即使你的论证很完美和有力,也无法说服一些人,因为他们是从自己的利益去选择立场的。 (3)还有一点在验证一个论证的正确与否的过程中是很重要的,就是这个论证和现实情况的相符是否
Is the argument's ability to convince the opponents the best way to evaluate this argument? The issue is a complex one. Although the statement has its merit to some extent, the speaker overestimates the value of this ability in a test of an argument. I disagree with this statement in a more widely sphere and, as far as I’m concerned, there are more factors indicating the creditability of an argument.
Admittedly, this claim is true when it comes to the arguments which are generated in the suspicion of existing opinions held by the public. To some extent, the goal of this argument is to challenge the old ones and convince people of a new theory. For example, Galileo once questioned Aristotle's famous theory about the falling movement- the heavier objects always fall faster than the lighter ones and Galileo argued that objects of different weights falls in the same speed. Thus he introduced the impressive experiment in which he simply released two metal balls in the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the result matched with his argument, which convinced all the spectators. This argument was really a successful one because it defeated the conventional view held by the public and convinced the people of the new one.
On the other hand, even though an argument is very cogent and reliable, sometimes it is difficult to convince the others with an opposing view. That is because some people take their sides according to their own interests and they can't be convinced just because their opponents' argument is undeniable with cogent evidences. In the 16th century, the outstanding anatomist Vesalius discovered that males had as many ribs as females, which was against the religious point that the females had one more rib than males. The argument by Vesalius was so convincing because his evidences were based on the results of body dissections. But the religion couldn't be convinced in that their intention was to protect the religious authority. Here, the ability of convincing the opponents can't be used as an effective method to evaluate one's argument.
What is more, the ability to convince others with a contrary view is not the only indicator in a test of an argument. As far as I am concerned, the ability to match with the practical situations is a powerful and significant means to test it. Euclid Geometry' argument that the angle sum of a triangle is 180 degrees had once convinced nearly all the contemporaries. Was it a perfect and undeniable one? The answer should be no. Since the situations in the navigation were inconsistent with the conventional theory, the people realized that Euclid' convincing argument was problematic when it came to the hook face. The inconsistency between the argument and the practical situations plays an essential role in the test of the argument.
To sum up, the ability to convince the people with an opposite view is sometimes effective in the test of the argument. But everyone has an angle and even a perfect and undeniable argument can’t persuade the opponents with a conventional opinion of their interests. Furthermore, one should tell an argument is cogent and reliable only when it matches the practical situations. Everyone ought to choose a suitable method in a test of an argument according to the particular conditions of its own. |
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