Do you like to understand the parts of an argument before seeing the whole?

Answer 1

WOW

Nice question...I will try to answer this based on the words you used....the key point being...."seeing the whole" vs. "understanding the whole"

You never asked about "understanding" the whole

Here's why I make the distinction between the two:

I can see the car without understanding it or its parts...and I can like it. I dont have to know all the parts of the car or understand how they all work together to use the car.

I can "see" the whole arguement...I dont need to know all the parts of the arguement or understand how they all work together to use the arguement.

That being said - the whole perspective of the question changes if we substitute the word "see" with "understand". As I can "see" the car - its not the same thing as "understanding" the car.....or in this case - the arguement.

If I wanted to "understand" the arguement - it would be mandatory to "understand" the pieces. Without undersatnding the pieces, understanding the whole is impossible.

Naturally, if one was going to "take part" in an arguement - he would have to "understand" the arguement and all its pieces otherwise - anything he says is meaningless dribble with no backing - if there is no backing in truth - there is no winning the arguement

Answer 2

The Q is oddly posed because understanding the parts of an argument is necessary but not sufficient in order to understand the whole argument. In that sense, I do "like to understand the parts of an argument before seeing the whole" which I interpret as seeing how the parts logically and rationally fit together to form the whole argument.

Answer 3

What I learned in college and university was that if I focus on the first premise, needing to see all parts are irrelevant.

If the original premise is wrong then what flows from the that premise in terms of a conclusion is also wrong.

If the first premises or assumptions are wrong, the likelihood of a cogent argument begins to diminish.

Answer 4

I prefer deduction to induction. (ie - I want to see the bigger picture before I break it down into parts and as Mr Anger appropriately points out, too many details sometimes obscure the bigger picture)

Answer 5

Yes because how do you know what side to choose if you don't know the whole argument.

Answer 6

No give me the whole usually the parts are nothing but clutter for the mind.