It is great to become formally trained in argument method and fallacies, helping to map out arguments in order to see which reasons lead to which conclusions, as well as pointing out faulty reasoning. However, in everyday conversations faulty reasoning abounds, but no one cares to have their argument mapped out for them. I find myself getting so flustered as people lose their patience with me as I try to point out their fallacies or inconsistencies. Its as if they are sticking their fingers in their ears and chanting "I can't hear you I'm right you're wrong."

I engaged with a co-worker today on the issue of abortion. I had Francis Beckwith's Definding Life sitting on my desk and he inquired. I made a reasoned argument for my position and he made an emotional fallacious "argument", yet I was the one left on the verge of tears for being accused of all the awful things that pro-lifers are accused of.

For reasons like this I find myself wanting more and more to only seriously engage with academics. Individual arguments are complex and often a comprehensive set of arguments are needed. If we are going to commit ourselves to truth, it requires patience, focus, and stamina.

I recently taught a couple courses for the Gordon Lewis Center , and I commended three strategies to my students before we ever began, two of them I think are appropriate here:

1) Acknowledge Presuppositions

2) Follow the truth where it leads

I would hope that we can strive, in every day conversation, to justify our presuppositions (rather than arguing from them), humbly accept the conclusions of arguments even if it means we have to change our minds.