If you could force your political opponents to read one book...

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Infohawk

Lifer
Jan 12, 2002
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...to change their views, what would you choose? By political opponents I merely mean someone who doesn't share your views.

I would probably want others to read a webpage or book about basic logical fallacies so that my opponent could at least use coherent arguments. Theoretically, if they truly avoided further fallacies we would both get closer and closer to the truth.

What about you? Why?
 
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theflyingpig

theflyingpig

Banned
Mar 9, 2008
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lol. You want to force an opponent to read something to force them to change their views? Perhaps it is you who are the one who needs some educating. Perhaps.
 
Daedalus685

Daedalus685

Golden Member
Nov 12, 2009
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I'd make them read Dune... not because I think it will change there minds but they may as well read something good if I want them to ever trust me enough to have a conversation ;).
 
nonlnear

nonlnear

Platinum Member
Jan 31, 2008
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Infohawk said:
I would probably want others to read a webpage or book about basic logical fallacies so that my opponent could at least use coherent arguments. Theoretically, if they truly avoided further fallacies we would both get closer and closer to the truth.
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Avoiding fallacies only improves one's odds of deducing on truth if one is actually aware of one's axioms. "False => false" is true, and is used by many people to make ludicrous deductions that are totally fallacy free. It is incredibly important if one wants to be competent in discussion, but avoiding fallacy is but one component of a coherent mind.
 
Daedalus685

Daedalus685

Golden Member
Nov 12, 2009
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On that topic.. generally I just read books on physics and computers to learn some logic.. but if anyone has a good read on the subject of coherence let me know!
 
C

cubby1223

Lifer
May 24, 2004
13,518
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86
I'd make my leftie enemies read "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" to show them what happens when government hands out things for free.
 
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Noobtastic

Banned
Jul 9, 2005
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Infohawk said:
...to change their views, what would you choose? By political opponents I merely mean someone who doesn't share your views.

I would probably want others to read a webpage or book about basic logical fallacies so that my opponent could at least use coherent arguments. Theoretically, if they truly avoided further fallacies we would both get closer and closer to the truth.

What about you? Why?
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Fallacies are part of arguments.

Find me a political argument that does not contain card-stacking, strawman, ad-hominem, etc...

Persuasion is not about truth or honesty. Facts can be adjusted and at times invented to support a view point.
 
W

WHAMPOM

Diamond Member
Feb 28, 2006
7,628
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cubby1223 said:
I'd make my leftie enemies read "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" to show them what happens when government hands out things for free.
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Normal humans being a social, communal animal would give back more then they get. And in this way help build a civilization. But you judge people by your standard which makes everybody a shit.

edit; Stranger in a strange land, don't wanna fry a brain too much, well maybe a little.
 
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UberNeuman

UberNeuman

Lifer
Nov 4, 1999
16,937
3,087
126
Daedalus685 said:
I'd make them read Dune... not because I think it will change there minds but they may as well read something good if I want them to ever trust me enough to have a conversation ;).
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Actually, that's not a bad choice as it can be seen as a allegory for humankind as we seek a grand leader, only then to see their failings and to tear them down...

\Need to read both Dune and Dune Messiah again...
\\sorry, Daedalus685 - just realized you implied that in your post...
 
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Tristicus

Tristicus

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Feb 2, 2008
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www.wallpapereuphoria.com
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Atreus21

Atreus21

Lifer
Aug 21, 2007
12,001
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Infohawk said:
...to change their views, what would you choose? By political opponents I merely mean someone who doesn't share your views.

I would probably want others to read a webpage or book about basic logical fallacies so that my opponent could at least use coherent arguments. Theoretically, if they truly avoided further fallacies we would both get closer and closer to the truth.

What about you? Why?
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That's a tossup. There are a few books that have changed my life. I think it'd come down to a tie between Orthodoxy by GK Chesterton, and Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis.

I can't imagine anyone reading Orthodoxy without pulling out of it some very profound insights, especially from the chapter on Madness, and how logic, not imagination, leads to insanity.

Some of my favorite quotes that I remember (so probably not verbatim):

"A poet is content to float on the infinite sea. A logician seeks to cross it, and thus make it finite. An artist wants to get his head into the heavens. A logician wants to get the heavens into his head. And it is his head that explodes."

"A madman is not a man who has lost his reason. A madman is a man who has lost everything but his reason."

"A hatter is called mad because he has to measure the human head."
 
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IronWing

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
72,488
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136
My Pet Goat



Just kidding. I would ask them (and folks I agree with politically as well) to read Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse.
 
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Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
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I've considered this question for some time and don't know of 'one book'.

See my sig for some authors that are good.

But to answer the question with 'a' good book:

For American Imperialists, or any imperialists, one book is Michael Parenti's "Against Empire". I recommend it not as a book to agree with every word, but it is eye-opening.

For Militarists, I'd suggest Chris Hedges' "War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning".

For unconditional supportes of US foreign policy, Chalmers Johnson's "Nemesis".

For advocates of corporations having 'free speech' rights, Thom Hartmann's "Unequal Protections".

For tea party members, a coloring book with words.

For fans of corporations' international activities, John Perkins' "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man".

For people who believe in a 'liberal media', "What Liberal Media?"

For followers of right-wing media, David Brock's "Blinded by the Right".

For people who think George Bush wasn't a terrible president, "The Book on Bush"; for people who think the Republican Party isn't terrible, "Banana Republicans".

For people who can use a bit of a summary of some groups, "What Every American Should Know About Who's Really Running the World".

For those who don't understand how democracies are attacked at time by authoritarian forces, Naomi Klein's "The Shock Doctrine".

For those who think the presidential elections are ok, try an early critique of "The Selling of the President 1968".

For other topics, ask.
 
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Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
126
IHateViruses said:
Naomi "everything is a conspiracy11!!!" Klein?

Seriously Craig?
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Her book has some important information about both techniques developed against people, and about the way societies can be controlled with 'shock'.

You have some conspiracy claimed in the book you can debunk?

Post away. Your first had zero facts.

Regardless, the areas I mentioned are informative.
 
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