tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post8650064206845892589..comments2024-03-19T07:48:54.021-06:00Comments on Gus Van Horn: Who Was More Persuasive?Gus Van Hornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-85200787425486278332018-05-11T12:29:01.531-06:002018-05-11T12:29:01.531-06:00Dinwar,
I agree that different people may find di...Dinwar,<br /><br />I agree that different people may find different kinds of evidence more compelling (in your example, both kinds of information are consistent with a pregnancy), but I think one can generalize about what kind of argument is more persuasive based on how the human mind works when it properly forms an abstraction.<br /><br />Laffer is correct, for example, in what the limiting case would be for "Jobs-for-All" in a mathematical model. (This doesn't mean the model can be actualized.) That said, one can attempt to persuade with an inappropriate level of abstraction or with floating abstractions, and be unconvincing because of the tie to concretes that properly-formed abstractions is either not clear or is missing altogether.<br /><br />GusGus Van Hornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-48776786586621926632018-05-11T10:47:43.037-06:002018-05-11T10:47:43.037-06:00I think the question starts from a flawed premise:...I think the question starts from a flawed premise: Namely, that we can evaluate persuasion as a universal. I've found that to be pretty far from the truth. In some cases yes, the arguments showing the immorality of these policies works. However, they only work on someone who is capable of viewing things from a fairly high conceptual level. Not everyone can do that (and the percentage is declining in the Western World), and for those people providing more concrete arguments is more effective. <br /><br />I remember when my wife was pregnant and we went to see the ultrasound. I called my parents to talk about it, and my mother said "Now it's real, isn't it?" I was genuinely confused. My wife had done two home pregnancy tests and had the doctor verify it; I knew she was pregnant. My mother and I were persuaded by different approaches, though. She had to see the direct evidence--the beating heart of the fetus. I accept more indirect methods. The same principle is applicable to persuasion in general. <br /><br />Of course, all of this is rendered mostly irrelevant by the fact (demonstrated by your own post) that we are attacking these flawed ideologies on all fronts and via all methods. It's just a question of picking the right tool for the job! Dinwarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06138006602385020048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-51175487847832089702018-05-11T02:23:01.129-06:002018-05-11T02:23:01.129-06:00This would be a lot funnier if there weren't s...This would be a lot funnier if there weren't so many people working on starting this show and including me in the cast.<br /><br />Hint for passers-by: I am a middle-aged pro-capitalist.Gus Van Hornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-36756531876940901972018-05-10T18:19:46.869-06:002018-05-10T18:19:46.869-06:00Hi Gus,
Here's a possible means of persuasion...Hi Gus,<br /><br />Here's a possible means of persuasion - Reality Therapy for College Credit!<br /><br />http://pc.blogspot.com/2018/05/heres-great-idea-for-real-reality-show.html<br /><br />c andrewAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com