Thursday, June 08, 2006

We have seen this in operation

On Tricks of the Trade, a simple algorithm for how to win any argument:
  1. Take the position that the truth of the matter is unknowable;
  2. Make your opponent define his position concisely;
  3. Ask your opponent questions until he is forced to admit there are unknown variables.

But its effectiveness wears down with extended use, and this is not a tool that can be sharpened.

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