CHAPTER ONE. Things You Should Know. What Makes an Argument?
Elements of an Argument
Concern for Truth
Self-interest
Status
Emotion
Types of Argument
Private Arguments
Public Arguments
Written Arguments
Family Arguments
Arguments and the Gender Gap
Children’s Arguments
Aggressive Arguments
‘Every Question Has Two Sides’
Arguments in Other Cultures
Victories Are Not Solutions
When Not to Argue
Summary
CHAPTER TWO. Things You Can Do To Win
Offensive Tactics. Chinese Water Torture
Know-all
Blinding with Science
Parrot
Nice Cop and Nasty Cop
Sandbag
It’s My Party
Friend of the Boss
Bulldozer
Mad Dog
Hearsay
Reverse Psychology
Clown
Hand Grenade
Thin End of the Wedge
Shooting the Fox
Defensive Tactics
Logician
Stonewall
Breaker
Buddy
Wimp-out
Lightning Conductor
The Wellington Boot
China Egg
Other Men’s Shoes
Possum
Sir Humphrey
Manipulative Arguments
Summary
CHAPTER THREE. Levelling the Playing Field
Scales
Setting and Set
Scenario 1
Scenario 2
Thermostat
Clockwatcher
Psychology
Transactional Analysis
Summary
References and Further Reading
Отрывок из книги
Cover
Title Page
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This is a human reaction and, as such, we have to live with it. There is no point trying to pretend that you are some sort of superhuman being who is not affected by the heady emotions attached to an argument. However, if you are aware of the extent to which you may be emotionally involved in what is being said you may be able to stand aside from yourself just enough to prevent falling into the worst excesses.
The emotional content of an argument may often be of far more importance than the intellectual content and this is a fact that you ignore at your peril. Once hurt pride becomes an issue then it will prove the greatest of obstacles to getting a reasonable solution. In any argument in which you may be involved take great care to consider the effects of emotion.
