What Is a Straw Man Argument? Definition and Examples
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What Is a Straw Man Argument? Definition and Examples
Most people immediately start with a straw man, poking holes in the weakest version of the other side’s case. He does the reverse: he considers the strongest version of their case, which is known as the steel man.10 A politician might occasionally adopt that tactic to pander or persuade, but like a good scientist, Harish does it to learn.
The basic difference between an argument and a fight: an argument, done skillfully, gets people to want to do what you want. You fight to win; you argue to achieve agreement.
The real test of any argument is how well it stands up to rigorous criticism. When you’re confident in your viewpoint, you love a chance to throw it into the ring with other arguments and show off its strength. It works like boxing: the stronger the opponents you’ve beaten, the better your ranking. That’s why a strong college paper always includes
... See moreMost people immediately start with a straw man, poking holes in the weakest version of the other side’s case. He does the reverse: he considers the strongest version of their case, which is known as the steel man.