4 ms·
This is generally the philosophical tradition: you present ideas, wholly and completely, as an explanation or a solution to a problem. You do not pre-suppose di
by wfo 10y ago
This is generally the philosophical tradition: you present ideas, wholly and completely, as an explanation or a solution to a problem. You do not pre-suppose disagreements for your opponents (this will almost certainly end up being a straw man, if you let them make their own arguments they will make them more favorably than you could. It is a sign of respect). You express your idea as a firm, unyielding truth and wait until it is appropriately refuted, then reassess.
- mcguire 10y agoAnd when it is refuted, you assert something akin to: "Linguistic theory is mentalistic, since it is concerned with discovering a mental reality underlying actual behavior. Observed use of language ... may provide evidence ... but surely cannot constitute the subject-matter of linguistics, if this is to be a serious discipline."