WHAT IS ARGUMENTATION?

For clarity’s sake, argumentation is not about the winning of arguments. We do not engage in arguments because we just want to open our mouths. Well put, an argument is a cerebral or mind engagement that involves reasonable interactions between or among the parties involved. Thus, it is an intellectual exercise; a property of critical thinking, which is the process of reasoning systematically in support of an idea, action, belief or theory for the greater good of society. True Purpose of Argument Why do we engage in an argument? We should not engage in a debate because we want to win the day or impose our stance on others. For the disciplined and critical mind, the primary purpose is to learn or to confirm hunches (As in, is this debate a confirmation of the feeling that “so and so” is true?). What you know is already in you, but to know or learn anything new, you may need to hear from another person. The real reason we engage in an argument or discourse is often lost on the majority today. We have confused an argument with a contest that engenders strife, unhealthy rivalry or ill will, instead of a thought-provoking, intellectual exercise aimed at illuminating the mind, and creating awareness which empowers one with knowledge that can be used by anyone who has acquired it via listening intently. That is the basis of any form of communication, anyway. For example, if at the end of reading this, you do not take anything away that you could apply to solve a problem, you would have wasted very precious time. But an even bigger problem is that many hardly ever read, let alone apply workable principles inked in books. Argumentation is a selfless exercise. You are not in it for personal aggrandisement, but for the general good. It has to do with living outside yourself, and beyond the confines of your belief system. Supposedly, you have heard or read about true greatness being the ability to live outside oneself, haven’t you? The purpose of engaging in an argument can be likened to this. It is essentially for the benefit of others. You adduce reasons, draw and infer conclusions and, apply them to a case, so that your listeners can apply what they learn to real-life situations. That is the idea behind critical thinking...