Source: Moral Philosophy for Modern Life, Anthony Falikowski, p206
Table 9.1
Some DO'S AND DON'TS FOR ARGUMENT'S SAKE
________________________________________________________________
DON'T
DO
Attack or intimidate
Divert attention from the real issues
Base arguments on emotional or psychological
appeals
Build false or questionable claims into your
argument
Use invalid logic
Use unjustifiable premises
Make questionable assumptions
Adopt the proper attitude (i.e. Socratic humility)
Remain rational and emotionally detached
Stay objective
Confuse valid logic with truth
Take disagreements personally
Appeal to authorities unjustifiably
Attribute to others what they didn't say
Make illegitimate associations
Contradict yourself
Change the subject when challenged
Be inconsistent
Use faulty causal reasoning
Justify one wrong-doing with another
Listen to opposing viewpoints with openness
Appraise factual claims
Evaluate major premises and assumptions
Examine the logical thinking behind particular
conclusions
Look for fallacious reasoning
Appeal to higher-order values to justify your
viewpoints
Distinguish between opinions and arguments
Stick to the issues
Use proper processes of deductive and
inductive logic
Base your positions on sound arguments
Avoid diversion and intimidation by fallacious
reasoning