What Causes a ‘Good’ Argument to Be Persuasive?

A good argument is like a magic trick, it makes you believe something without realizing how it happened. When someone argues well, they use clear ideas, funny or smart examples, and sometimes even make you laugh or feel surprised. A persuasive argument helps you see things in a new way, just like when a teacher shows you the answer to a puzzle.

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Examples

A child says, 'I know it’s raining because I can see water on the ground,' and that makes sense to everyone around them.
Your friend argues, 'We should go to the park because the sky is blue, that means it’s a good day!' You agree just because it sounds fun.
A teacher explains why 2 + 2 = 4 by showing you two apples and then adding two more, now you understand.

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Categories: Philosophy · logic,persuasion,argumentation