a golden rule

["RICHARD P.F. HOLT" <holtri@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Herb Gintis writes,

	I have a basic principle, which serves me well. In criticizing
a theory, always take the very best formulation possible to attack.
And if that isn't good enough, make the theory you disagree with as
good as you can possibly make it before attacking it. Taking some
off-hand remark of someone does not conform to this.

I think this is so important for honest intellectual debate. The golden
rule has always been for me, which has served me well, is to give your
opponent the most charitable interpretation of their position that way
you can avoid straw man arguments. Another tricky one, which we constantly
run into on this list, is the ability to criticize vehemently a person's
logical position on a issue and then when it's all over to slap each other
on the back with a grin for a job well done and go and have a beer together.
Actually we should pat ourselves on the back here. Compared to many lists
we do a pretty good job here at pkt.
-Ric Holt
e-mail holtri@xxxxxxxxxxxxx