I think it is safe to say that a lot has been going on lately. Everybody has an opinion on these “goings on” and often it is a very strong opinion. It reminds me of my high school days when I was taking a course in Philosophy and Logic and one of the areas that we covered was the topic of Arguments. How and why we argue is super important in keeping our relationships and furthermore society healthy and functioning.
I found two definitions for the word argument online.
“Give reasons or cite evidence in support of an idea, action, or theory, typically with the aim of persuading others to share one’s view.”
~Oxford Languages
“a series of statements, called the premises or premisses, intended to determine the degree of truth of another statement, the conclusion.”
~Wikipedia
I personally air on the side of the second one. Perhaps you prefer the word “discussion” but an argument is a way to get to the truth. Anything else is just a fight.
I think the mistake that many of us, including myself, tend to make is that we argue to get our point across or we argue to be “right.” The reason why we should discuss, debate or argue is to get to the truth in any situation. We need to keep our egos in check and be willing to listen to people in humility, with an open mind and a compassionate heart. This is the best way to uncover the truth. The truth will ultimately set us free.
Friends, I pray that we can find the truth together, in love.
“When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.”
~ The Dalai Lama
Namaste,
Christopher Temple
