🥊 Are You Easily Falling into Argument Traps?

🧐 What You’ll Discover Today❓

👉 How critical thinking empowers you to build stronger arguments.

👉 Dealing with someone who claims, "I know what I'm talking about.” ( I know we all have encountered that one 😉)

👉 Recognizing whether the other side is presenting justification or explanation in your communication.

👉 Lastly, you will discover some of the most common argument traps and learn how to recognize them to avoid falling into them.

Ready to dive deeper? Let's explore together...🚀

To Flip or to Think?

How should you decide what to believe? One option would be to flip a coin or consult an astrologer to see what the stars will tell you. However, as much as we may like astrology, neither of these would be a good choice for providing reasons to believe something.

We can all agree that when you want to believe something, you need better reasons.

When I first encountered the term 'critical thinking,' I remember that I wasn't entirely clear about the extent to which its meaning reached or the boundaries within which it applied. It seemed to me like something entirely abstract, one of those 'big' words that people use nowadays to appear smarter and more sophisticated during job interviews.

So I will start with what I have learned about what critical thinking is not:

• Critical thinking isn’t knowing facts.

• Critical thinking isn’t philosophy.

• Critical thinking isn’t time-consuming thinking about thinking.

• Critical thinking isn’t judging others.

• Critical thinking isn’t assuming the worst.

But what critical thinking is, it is a learned skill. And like any other skill, the more you practice it, the better you become at it.

Critical thinking helps you correctly evaluate arguments made by others and compose good arguments of your own.

The Problem of Ignorance

Growing up, my uncle had a rather unusual way of arguing. His go-to tactic was to interrupt anyone the moment they started talking.

Even if you patiently let him speak, he'd sit in silence, waiting for you to talk again. And the second you did, he'd interrupt you with something he'd already said. He didn't hide what he was doing; he was proud of it. He thought that being rude made him seem strong and respectable.

Looking back, I realized that his tactic didn't actually win any arguments. It just wore people down until they gave up on having a proper, grown-up conversation with him.

It taught me that being the loudest person in the room doesn't mean you're right, and that real discussions need both speaking and listening.

Arguments are all around us. The good ones and the bad ones.
From casual conversations with friends and family to workplaces arguments serve as a tool for resolving conflicts and reaching compromises.
At the same time, they can be like a fog that obscures our judgment and persuades us to make choices that might not be in our best interest.

They want to make their argument strong and offer compelling reasons that not only persuade us but also justify our belief in their conclusion.
But this is only one of many patterns.

So whether someone is trying to persuade us or not, it is essential to think critically and decide if their argument makes sense, no matter what their goal is. That is your best defence against the pitfalls of ignorance.

Understanding the Difference Between Justification and Explanation

To see the potential danger of the argument trap we first need to understand how arguments are structured and how they function.

Justification, which includes providing valid reasons and evidence, contributes to a stronger and more persuasive argument. Knowing the difference allows you to discern whether the presented reasons are sufficient to support the conclusion.

Some individuals or debaters may use explanations to divert attention or manipulate the conversation, even if they lack strong justification for their claims.

If they are using explanations without strong justifications, you can ask for additional evidence or reasons to support their claims.

If you are the one presenting an argument, understanding the difference between justification and explanation enables you to construct a more robust and convincing case. You can focus on providing valid reasons and evidence to support your claims rather than relying solely on explanations.

The Illusion of Winning

In our communication with others, we often want to come out as winners, feeling like we've succeeded. But sometimes, our desire to win can lead us directly into the pitfall. Those who aren't aware of these traps are more likely to fall into them.

💡There are three common traps that we can find ourselves in and having awareness of what they are can help you to recognize when someone is trying to drag you into one:

• Understanding Confirmation Bias: Confirmation bias is something most of us do without even realizing it. According to psychologist Daniel Gilbert understanding a statement starts with an initial attempt to believe it, even if it's nonsensical, as our minds construct the best possible interpretation. It happens because we tend to look for information that agrees with what we already believe, and we often ignore or don't pay much attention to ideas that disagree with our opinions.

• Spotting and Avoiding Strawman Arguments: You're in the middle of an argument with someone, and out of nowhere, they start talking about something you never even said. It's like they're making up a fake version of your words just so they can argue against it, instead of addressing what you actually said. This is called the "straw man" effect – it's when they create a distorted and made-up version of your argument to easily knock it down. Basically, it lets them avoid dealing with your real points and attack a pretend version of your argument instead.

• Rising Above Personal Attacks: If you cannot attack the argument, attack the arguer. Personal attacks are when people say mean or hurtful things about someone instead of discussing the real topic. It's like trying to win an argument by saying bad things about the other person instead of talking about the actual issue at hand.

Avoid The Trap

💡Being aware of common fallacies in reasoning helps you ask better questions and focus on the logical connections in an argument, especially in situations that lack clarity.

These strategies empower you to engage thoughtfully and effectively:

• Stay Calm: Maintain a calm and composed demeanour during arguments. Emotional reactions can hinder clear thinking.

• Listen Actively: Pay close attention to the other person's arguments. Understanding their perspective is crucial for effective rebuttals.

• Ask Questions: Use probing questions to clarify the other person's position and to expose any weaknesses in their argument.

• Define Terms: Ensure that both you and your opponent have a clear understanding of key terms and concepts to avoid misunderstandings.

Remember, the goal is not merely to win arguments but to achieve a deeper understanding of diverse perspectives, identify common ground, and think critically.

💡Little Lessons Learned💡

🫴After all, providing reasons for believing something is how you construct a valid argument and with that, you begin to think critically.

🫴Many times, when people present arguments to us, they are genuinely attempting to convince us to change our minds and provide valid reasons for doing so.

🫴Recognizing whether the other side is presenting justification or explanation helps you assess the quality of their argument.

🫴If they are using explanations without strong justifications, you can ask for additional evidence or reasons to support their claims.

🫴There are three common argument traps named confirmation bias, strawman arguments and personal attack tactics.

🫴Being aware of common fallacies in reasoning helps you ask better questions and focus on the logical connections in an argument, especially in situations that lack clarity.

 Thinking, Fast and Slow  by Daniel Kahneman

A fantastic book that provides an explanation of how our minds work in two different ways – one quick and intuitive, the other slow and logical – and shows us how understanding these systems can help us not to be tricked by our own minds.

• Dual-System Thinking: Kahneman explains the two systems that drive human thinking: System 1, which is fast, intuitive, and emotional, and System 2, which is slower, more deliberate, and logical.

• Cognitive Biases: The book exposes the faults and biases associated with fast thinking, illustrating how these biases affect our judgments, decisions, and behavior in various aspects of life, from business strategies to personal happiness.