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Never judge a philosophy by its abuse
#47
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse
(October 2, 2015 at 4:52 pm)RoadRunner79 Wrote: I think that it is wise advice.  

Essentially, it is isolating the individual from the philosophy, and that a failure to execute the concept is not a failure of the philosophy. It is also saying that you cannot judge the philosophy by someone who is not adhering to it.

I think there is another concept, which goes along well with this, I see often not followed in discussions.  I wasn't familiar with it by name, until this recent year.

Principle_of_charity

Quote:In philosophy and rhetoric, the principle of charity requires interpreting a speaker's statements to be rational and, in the case of any argument, considering its best, strongest possible interpretation.[1] In its narrowest sense, the goal of this methodological principle is to avoid attributing irrationality, logical fallacies or falsehoods to the others' statements, when a coherent, rational interpretation of the statements is available. According to Simon Blackburn[2] "it constrains the interpreter to maximize the truth or rationality in the subject's sayings."

Neil L. Wilson gave the principle its name in 1958–59.
In a debate, the goal is to win, but ultimately the goal is truth.  I think that this is a good philosophy in that regards (even if I don't always successfully fulfill it.)

I think you make an excellent point and present it well.  Around here we often complain of being straw manned but nonetheless attack dumbed down versions of other people's points.
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Messages In This Thread
Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Rhondazvous - September 16, 2015 at 2:07 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Catholic_Lady - September 16, 2015 at 2:18 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Minimalist - September 16, 2015 at 2:18 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Whateverist - October 4, 2015 at 8:02 am
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Pyrrho - September 16, 2015 at 2:24 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by brewer - September 17, 2015 at 11:07 am
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Napoléon - September 17, 2015 at 11:09 am
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Minimalist - September 17, 2015 at 11:39 am
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by downbeatplumb - September 17, 2015 at 12:51 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Longhorn - September 17, 2015 at 11:14 am
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by robvalue - September 17, 2015 at 11:17 am
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by vorlon13 - September 17, 2015 at 12:45 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Catholic_Lady - September 18, 2015 at 10:11 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Whateverist - October 4, 2015 at 8:12 am
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Alex K - October 2, 2015 at 5:49 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Alex K - October 2, 2015 at 6:54 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Alex K - October 2, 2015 at 7:10 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Pyrrho - October 2, 2015 at 7:12 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Alex K - October 2, 2015 at 7:17 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Rhondazvous - October 3, 2015 at 3:19 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Rhondazvous - October 3, 2015 at 2:54 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Kingpin - October 2, 2015 at 6:51 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Pyrrho - October 2, 2015 at 7:10 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Longhorn - October 2, 2015 at 7:08 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by bennyboy - October 2, 2015 at 9:29 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Longhorn - October 3, 2015 at 2:30 am
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by ignoramus - October 3, 2015 at 8:45 am
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Whateverist - October 4, 2015 at 8:25 am
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Whateverist - October 4, 2015 at 8:16 am
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Silver - October 2, 2015 at 9:31 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Whateverist - October 4, 2015 at 8:19 am
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Dystopia - October 3, 2015 at 3:18 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Alex K - October 3, 2015 at 4:06 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by bennyboy - October 3, 2015 at 6:29 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by bennyboy - October 4, 2015 at 12:01 am
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by bennyboy - October 4, 2015 at 6:07 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Alex K - October 4, 2015 at 12:03 am
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Longhorn - October 4, 2015 at 4:51 am
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Pyrrho - October 4, 2015 at 1:33 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Kingpin - October 4, 2015 at 6:03 am
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Whateverist - October 4, 2015 at 8:31 am
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Pyrrho - October 4, 2015 at 1:38 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by robvalue - October 4, 2015 at 7:28 am
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Rhondazvous - October 4, 2015 at 11:25 am
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Whateverist - October 4, 2015 at 11:26 am
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Rhondazvous - October 4, 2015 at 12:14 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by Alex K - October 4, 2015 at 5:11 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by bennyboy - October 4, 2015 at 7:42 pm
RE: Never judge a philosophy by its abuse - by ignoramus - October 4, 2015 at 8:40 pm

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