Claim: The best test of an argument is its ability to convince someone with an opposing
viewpoint.
Reason: Only by being forced to defend an idea against the doubts and contrasting
views of others does one really discover the value of that idea.
The claim that the best test of an argument is its ability to convince someone with an
opposing viewpoint is a compelling one. The reason given for this claim is that only
through defending an idea against all possible criticism does the idea gain true and
tested merit. Indeed, it is this very reason which forms the basis of academic scholarship:
by debating and discussing opposing ideas in a collective discourse, we are able to
home in upon those ideas which are truly of value. The concept that an argument
should be based on sound principles that convince even those who are biased against it
falls in line with the foundation of our post-Enlightenment society of reason.
Consider, for example, two disparate political parties with vastly different approaches
to governing a country. If, in this tense political climate, a representative from one party
raises an argument which she can defend openly in front of a group of her opponents,
the value of the idea becomes clear. Say, perhaps, that a representative proposes a
new strategy for increasing employment which falls much more in line with her own
party’s philosophy than with the other party’s. By arguing with representatives from the
opposing party, and by addressing each and every counterpoint that they raise to her
new employment policy, the potential flaws in her idea are laid utterly bare. Furthermore,
the logic and reason of her points must be measured in the balance against the biases
and emotions of her listeners. If after such a conversation she is able to convince the
opposing party that her proposal holds some merit and might actually be beneficial for
the citizens of their country, then its value becomes far more evident than if she were
a dictator who had merely administered her vision unchecked. It is apparent from this
example that the ideology of convincing others with opposing viewpoints is pervasive in
the way many governments and institutions are structured, such as our own—through
checks and balances, public discourse, and productive disagreement.
The strongest reason for the excerpt’s validity is found by comparing the claim to
its reverse. Imagine a scenario where one is asked to present one’s argument, but
the group of people to whom one is presenting already espouse those very ideas:
“preaching to the choir” is the ubiquitous idiom we use to describe this phenomenon.
In this situation, it becomes irrelevant whether or not a particular argument holds
those indicators of merit: logic and reason grounded in evidence. Even the most
inflammatory or tenuous arguments would not be exposed for their true hollowness
by a group who were unwilling or unable to question the speaker. The “choir”
presents no challenge to the argument, and in doing so the argument’s merit cannot
be tested. In fact, it is this lack of challenge which can lead to stagnation both in the governing of nations—consider, as mentioned above, dictators who eliminate the
possibility of dissent—and in academic discourse, where complacency with prevailing
ideas can halt the creation of new and possibly contradictory findings. For this, we see
that being forced to defend an idea against the doubt of others does indeed bring
out its true worth; in the opposing situation, whether or not the argument holds
intrinsic merit, this merit cannot be tested or discerned in any way.
There is, however, one modification which makes the claim more complete. The
claim suggests that the best test for an argument is its ability to convince others,
which may lead to the inference that an argument which cannot convince others
holds no value. However, this inference is not true, and here lies the caveat to the
claim. Throughout history there are ideas or arguments that are perhaps too modern,
beyond their times, and in these situations those who oppose them refuse to believe
an argument that is later on discovered to be entirely true and valid. Imagine, for
example, Galileo’s attempts to convince his contemporaries that the Earth revolved
around the Sun, and not vice versa. In the scientific climate of his time, others simply
couldn’t accept Galileo’s reasoned argument despite his multiple attempts to
convince them. In this instance, the value of Galileo’s argument actually could not be
tested by defending it in front of others. The value only became apparent later on,
when other scientists began to repeat and understand the insightful calculations that
Galileo had made much earlier. So while convincing the opposition is certainly one
mark of a good argument, it is not always the ultimate test.
In conclusion, the examples discussed reveal that the worth of an argument
can be measured through its ability to withstand dissent and doubt. As long as an
argument is not deemed invalid by the mere fact that no others are persuaded by it, it
is reasonable to claim that the best way to test an argument is to attempt to convince
those who oppose it.
Grammar and spelling errors:
Line 3, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Opposing
...s ability to convince someone with an opposing viewpoint is a compelling one. The reas...
^^^^^^^^
Line 7, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Tested
...criticism does the idea gain true and tested merit. Indeed, it is this very reason w...
^^^^^^
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Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Home
... collective discourse, we are able to home in upon those ideas which are truly of ...
^^^^
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Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Falls
... even those who are biased against it falls in line with the foundation of our post...
^^^^^
Line 19, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: To
...ties with vastly different approaches to governing a country. If, in this tense ...
^^
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Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Party&apos
... falls much more in line with her own party's philosophy than with the other party&...
^^^^^^^^^^
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Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: New
...y counterpoint that they raise to her new employment policy, the potential flaws ...
^^^
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Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: And
...red in the balance against the biases and emotions of her listeners. If after suc...
^^^
Line 35, column 32, Rule ID: SENTENCE_FRAGMENT[1]
Message: “If” at the beginning of a sentence requires a 2nd clause. Maybe a comma, question or exclamation mark is missing, or the sentence is incomplete and should be joined with the following sentence.
...biases and emotions of her listeners. If after such a conversation she is able t...
^^
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Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: A
...mes far more evident than if she were a dictator who had merely administered he...
^
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Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Checks
...e structured, such as our own—through checks and balances, public discourse, and pro...
^^^^^^
Line 51, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Its
...ty is found by comparing the claim to its reverse. Imagine a scenario where one i...
^^^
Line 55, column 63, Rule ID: USE_TO_VERB[1]
Message: Did you mean 'used'?
Suggestion: used
... choir' is the ubiquitous idiom we use to describe this phenomenon. In this ...
^^^
Line 57, column 42, Rule ID: WHETHER[7]
Message: Perhaps you can shorten this phrase to just 'whether'. It is correct though if you mean 'regardless of whether'.
Suggestion: whether
...n this situation, it becomes irrelevant whether or not a particular argument holds those ind...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Those
...er or not a particular argument holds those indicators of merit: logic and reason g...
^^^^^
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Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: By
... be exposed for their true hollowness by a group who were unwilling or unable to...
^^
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Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Be
...g so the argument's merit cannot be tested. In fact, it is this lack of cha...
^^
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Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Ideas
...se, where complacency with prevailing ideas can halt the creation of new and possib...
^^^^^
Line 75, column 48, Rule ID: WHETHER[7]
Message: Perhaps you can shorten this phrase to just 'whether'. It is correct though if you mean 'regardless of whether'.
Suggestion: whether
... true worth; in the opposing situation, whether or not the argument holds intrinsic merit, t...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Line 77, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Intrinsic
...on, whether or not the argument holds intrinsic merit, this merit cannot be tested or d...
^^^^^^^^^
Line 83, column 1, Rule ID: SENTENCE_FRAGMENT[1]
Message: “which” at the beginning of a sentence requires a 2nd clause. Maybe a comma, question or exclamation mark is missing, or the sentence is incomplete and should be joined with the following sentence.
...nt is its ability to convince others, which may lead to the inference that an argum...
^^^^^
Line 85, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Holds
...argument which cannot convince others holds no value. However, this inference is no...
^^^^^
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Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Claim
...true, and here lies the caveat to the claim. Throughout history there are ideas or ...
^^^^^
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Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: An
...ose who oppose them refuse to believe an argument that is later on discovered to...
^^
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Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Around
...ontemporaries that the Earth revolved around the Sun, and not vice versa. In the sci...
^^^^^^
Line 99, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Convince
...ment despite his multiple attempts to convince them. In this instance, the value of Ga...
^^^^^^^^
Line 101, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Tested
...apos;s argument actually could not be tested by defending it in front of others. The...
^^^^^^
Line 105, column 32, Rule ID: SENTENCE_FRAGMENT[3]
Message: “So while” at the beginning of a sentence requires a 2nd clause. Maybe a comma, question or exclamation mark is missing, or the sentence is incomplete and should be joined with the following sentence.
...s that Galileo had made much earlier. So while convincing the opposition is certainly ...
^^^^^^^^
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Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Mark
...ncing the opposition is certainly one mark of a good argument, it is not always th...
^^^^
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Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Can
... reveal that the worth of an argument can be measured through its ability to with...
^^^
Line 111, column 69, Rule ID: SENTENCE_FRAGMENT[1]
Message: “As” at the beginning of a sentence requires a 2nd clause. Maybe a comma, question or exclamation mark is missing, or the sentence is incomplete and should be joined with the following sentence.
...ability to withstand dissent and doubt. As long as an argument is not deemed inv...
^^
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Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Those
...an argument is to attempt to convince those who oppose it.
^^^^^
Transition Words or Phrases used:
actually, but, furthermore, however, if, may, so, then, while, for example, in conclusion, in fact, such as
Attributes: Values AverageValues Percentages(Values/AverageValues)% => Comments
Performance on Part of Speech:
To be verbs : 41.0 19.5258426966 210% => Less to be verbs wanted.
Auxiliary verbs: 13.0 12.4196629213 105% => OK
Conjunction : 27.0 14.8657303371 182% => OK
Relative clauses : 36.0 11.3162921348 318% => Less relative clauses wanted (maybe 'which' is over used).
Pronoun: 77.0 33.0505617978 233% => Less pronouns wanted
Preposition: 108.0 58.6224719101 184% => OK
Nominalization: 35.0 12.9106741573 271% => Less nominalizations (nouns with a suffix like: tion ment ence ance) wanted.
Performance on vocabulary words:
No of characters: 4364.0 2235.4752809 195% => OK
No of words: 819.0 442.535393258 185% => Less content wanted.
Chars per words: 5.32844932845 5.05705443957 105% => OK
Fourth root words length: 5.34959587656 4.55969084622 117% => OK
Word Length SD: 3.00182696994 2.79657885939 107% => OK
Unique words: 374.0 215.323595506 174% => OK
Unique words percentage: 0.456654456654 0.4932671777 93% => More unique words wanted or less content wanted.
syllable_count: 1321.2 704.065955056 188% => OK
avg_syllables_per_word: 1.6 1.59117977528 101% => OK
A sentence (or a clause, phrase) starts by:
Pronoun: 15.0 6.24550561798 240% => Less pronouns wanted as sentence beginning.
Article: 18.0 4.99550561798 360% => Less articles wanted as sentence beginning.
Subordination: 4.0 3.10617977528 129% => OK
Conjunction: 8.0 1.77640449438 450% => Less conjunction wanted as sentence beginning.
Preposition: 16.0 4.38483146067 365% => Less preposition wanted as sentence beginnings.
Performance on sentences:
How many sentences: 29.0 20.2370786517 143% => OK
Sentence length: 28.0 23.0359550562 122% => The Avg. Sentence Length is relatively long.
Sentence length SD: 62.6090297515 60.3974514979 104% => OK
Chars per sentence: 150.482758621 118.986275619 126% => OK
Words per sentence: 28.2413793103 23.4991977007 120% => OK
Discourse Markers: 3.68965517241 5.21951772744 71% => OK
Paragraphs: 58.0 4.97078651685 1167% => Less paragraphs wanted.
Language errors: 32.0 7.80617977528 410% => Less language errors wanted.
Sentences with positive sentiment : 16.0 10.2758426966 156% => OK
Sentences with negative sentiment : 9.0 5.13820224719 175% => OK
Sentences with neutral sentiment: 4.0 4.83258426966 83% => OK
What are sentences with positive/Negative/neutral sentiment?
Coherence and Cohesion:
Essay topic to essay body coherence: 0.436657784202 0.243740707755 179% => OK
Sentence topic coherence: 0.127129212433 0.0831039109588 153% => OK
Sentence topic coherence SD: 0.116464916905 0.0758088955206 154% => OK
Paragraph topic coherence: 0.0930292797513 0.150359130593 62% => OK
Paragraph topic coherence SD: 0.111741392403 0.0667264976115 167% => OK
Essay readability:
automated_readability_index: 17.8 14.1392134831 126% => OK
flesch_reading_ease: 43.06 48.8420337079 88% => OK
smog_index: 8.8 7.92365168539 111% => OK
flesch_kincaid_grade: 14.2 12.1743820225 117% => OK
coleman_liau_index: 13.93 12.1639044944 115% => OK
dale_chall_readability_score: 8.88 8.38706741573 106% => OK
difficult_words: 200.0 100.480337079 199% => OK
linsear_write_formula: 13.0 11.8971910112 109% => OK
gunning_fog: 13.2 11.2143820225 118% => OK
text_standard: 14.0 11.7820224719 119% => OK
What are above readability scores?
---------------------
Write the essay in 30 minutes.
Maximum six paragraphs wanted.
Rates: 66.67 out of 100
Scores by essay e-grader: 4.0 Out of 6
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Note: the e-grader does NOT examine the meaning of words and ideas. VIP users will receive further evaluations by advanced module of e-grader and human graders.