What Is An Argument, Anyway?

Anyone who’s ever taught a course in philosophy will tell you that they see it all the time- perfectly civil discussions descending into shouting matches.  Some people do it for sport, because sometimes it just feels good to contradict someone.  Other people take things personally, and decide to hurl insults at others.  Either way, this isn’t what’s supposed to happen.

Philosophy is all about presenting an argument, but a specific type of argument. It’s not about the angry, shouty kind of argument, but rather about the kind where you present an idea, give reasons to back it up, and prepare to look for other ideas that may mean you need to re-valuate it. The angry, shouty kind lets us blow off steam, but it doesn’t get us any closer to figuring things out or understanding one another.

This is a good lesson for thinkers of all ages, including children. Learning to present an argument in a philosophical way takes practice, and there are basic guidelines to follow.  Here are a few tips that both you and your kids can use:

1. Present an idea that you think is a good one, and then give a few reasons why you think it works.  This is what philosophers mean when they talk about an “argument”.  The better your reasons, the better your argument.  Philosophers cringe when someone says “just because”.

2. If someone disagrees, let them disagree, as long as they give reasons for their disagreement. This is all part of the fun! When you’ve heard them out, you can either take their suggestions and change your idea a little, or you can give more reasons why you still think your idea works.  If all else fails, you can agree to disagree and keep thinking about your idea.

3. Try to think of your discussion as a dialogue, as opposed to an argument.  It’s okay if you don’t come up with an answer that works 100% of the time.  Philosophy has been going on for thousands of years, and people are still working on it.  The idea is to keep trying out new ideas and discussing them with others.

4.  Never let things get personal.  Insults and put-downs are not only rude, but they’re not very logical.  Generally speaking, if someone takes a shot at your choice of shoes or what you ate for lunch, they’re doing it because they haven’t come up with anything better.

If you’re a little nervous about teaching your child to argue like a philosopher, there are great resources right here. This may be one of the most important things you teach them, so don’t be afraid to jump in!