Location

Room 2

Document Type

Paper

Keywords

Conditions for argument, deep disagreement, intellectual colonialism, Ludwig Wittgenstein, non-rational persuasion, persuasion, rational resolution, responses to evil, Robert Fogelin

Start Date

3-6-2020 10:00 AM

End Date

3-6-2020 11:00 AM

Abstract

Robert Fogelin has introduced the concept of a deep disagreement as one that makes rational argumentation impossible. People who think of themselves as enlightened may use this concept to dismiss the positions and arguments of those who seem to them misguided. I argue that there is always a basis for a rational discussion between people who disagree. If there are no external impediments to argumentative discussion, it is a form of intellectual colonialism to abandon argument for non-rational persuasion on the basis of a diagnosis of deep disagreement.

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Jun 3rd, 10:00 AM Jun 3rd, 11:00 AM

Deep disagreement as intellectual colonialism

Room 2

Robert Fogelin has introduced the concept of a deep disagreement as one that makes rational argumentation impossible. People who think of themselves as enlightened may use this concept to dismiss the positions and arguments of those who seem to them misguided. I argue that there is always a basis for a rational discussion between people who disagree. If there are no external impediments to argumentative discussion, it is a form of intellectual colonialism to abandon argument for non-rational persuasion on the basis of a diagnosis of deep disagreement.