Whats the big deal with logical arguments?

Question

Why waste your time with proofs, factual information and statistics when EVERYTHING can be argued intelligently anyways?? Even the most absurd things can be justified if a person is willing to put in that much effort.

Why can't we just argue opinions? Isn't that what most people do anyways?

No I cannot keep my mouth shut.

I'm the stubborn/'has to get to the bottom of things' type

I'm probably an idiot for that.

Answer 1

Silence is the key of success

Answer 2

Maybe the most absurd things can be justified through argument, but I wouldn't say that was intelligent argument... just sophistry. Since people do argue their opinions, and everyone has their own specific and varying opinion, requiring arguments to be based on logic and facts helps sift out the craziness a little. If it's a competition of ideas, whichever one has a better foundation of facts and better support is probably more valid.

Answer 3

Logical arguements are just another way someone has of expressing themselves. Some people are very structured and require "logical" arguements and this makes for some good banter as this shows.

Have you ever thought about the place logic holds in philosophy? Is there a place for logic in philosophy or does it just provide a means for those with more strick regemins to express themselves.

I think that this is a forum for ideas and thoughts and perhaps arguements are more for a discussion board type situation. The ideas and thoughts that I have seen here come from people who are really curious and do value others opions as I do yours and the person with the "logic" way of expressing themselves.

Answer 4

What? The only way absurd things can be justified is if the arguer uses faulty logic or evidence. In a good argument (although I've rarely seen one), both sides are acting in good faith, and they actually do listen to the other side's arguments and try to give reasonable rebuttals.

In that case, the "big deal" is that it allows people to see other points of view and fix errors in their thinking. And as human beings, there will always be errors in our thinking, due to our natural biases and lack of knowledge.

Answer 5

It's only through arguing about facts that people make progress. It used to be common sense that the world was flat. It took argument, experimentation and someone actually going out and trying it to prove that you wouldn't fall off the edge. Without this process we'd still all be stuck in caves grunting and eating rocks.

Answer 6

Why be logical?
The simple answer is that it is the best way to reach the truth. Opinions are often prejudiced, and do not have value if not backed up by reasons. In logic, however, you can show necessity and indisputable truth if your argument is valid and the premises are all true. In other words, our opinions and feelings are not necessarily perceptions of the truth-that's why we need to be logical.

Answer 7

"Those who invalidate reason ought seriously to consider whether they argue against reason with or without reason; if with reason, then they establish the principles that they are laboring to dethrone: but if they argue without reason (which, in order to be consistent with themselves they must do), they are out of reach of rational conviction, nor do they deserve a rational argument." -- Ethan Allen

Answer 8

its like arguing with a christian. no matter how much proof there is both logicaly, scientificaly, and philisophicaly they still choose to argue against the facts

Answer 9

I'm with you but if it's logical why are we arguing the point. Surly its proven.

Answer 10

Why do you argue? Can't you keep your mouth shut?