Reason Seen More as Weapon Than Path to Truth

[Diopos]

Socrates (aka Plato) was in odds with the rhetors and orators of his time. In the Athenian Democracy the ability or talent to win arguments either in the political fora or the courts was respected and well paid. But in the process the preservation of logic and ethos was lost (intentionally or not). There is a difference in applying logic as opposed to wining arguments. The first is an attempt to validate or falsify a statement based on a set of defined principles, the second is a social thingy where the pursuit of "truth" can be easily bypassed by other priorities (usually self centered ones).

Originally Posted by sidslotm

Just when you thought it would'nt get any darker,
the light of all reason goes out,
and there in your mind is a shadow,
as deep and dark as your doubt.

.

[Dan D]

Originally Posted by Vendor

...Now some researchers are suggesting that reason evolved for a completely different purpose: to win arguments....


Note: Published: June 14, 2011

"Are you kidding me?"