The Most Important Thing About an Argument, Essay Example

Sydney J. Harris’ point that a crucial part of the discourse of argumentation, following the strength of the argument itself, is to also create an opening whereby the opponent in the argument may accept the opposing thesis, is entirely consistent with the logical structure of the argument. For the argument itself is not merely an empty form of ranting, but rather aims to convey a point. By creating too strict a difference between one’s position and the position of the opponent, the latter may adhere to his or her point despite its illegitimacy simply because no possibility has been granted for the opponent to change sides.

In this regard, reflecting over my own work experience, I recall a debate I had with a co-worker about the writing of a memo, and the necessity to avoid using clichés in the content. In particular, the co-worker wished to utilize the phrase “think outside the box”, whereby I suggested to him that this is a rhetorical terminology that is horribly over-used and contradicts what it means to say by its very over-use: essentially think outside the box means nothing more than be creative, but by using a worn-out phrase to express the imperative to creativity is an obvious contradiction.

However, in trying to make this point to the co-worker, I was too aggressive in my position. For example, I mocked the use of the phrase itself, noting that its belongs to the pages of any generic self-help book, creating an example of precisely such a book so as to degrade his argument: “Chapter 1: Think Outside the Box, Chapter 2: Find Your Passion Chapter 3: Maximize Your Opportunities.” What I aimed to show was the vacuous and self-evident nature of these types of remark, which try to communicate a profound wisdom, but are empty placeholders in the linguistic chain.

However, my attack was so acerbic that my co-worker, realizing his error, could only begin to himself talk in clichés, such as “it’s time to smell the roses.” In this way, he realized that my position was correct, and therefore belittled his own position. Yet because I was too aggressive, he could not simply say, you are correct. Hence, I would have attempted to explain the meaningless of such a cliché in the writing of the memo, much as I have done in this paper: for example, in diplomatic terms, stating that the imperative to think creatively conveyed in a phrase “think outside the box” is contradicted by this phrase is itself a well-worn phrase, I think. That “I think” at the end of the sentence punctuates the remark, and allows for a conversion to my position without any difficulty.