Persuasion, Control and Argument
The next logical step after gathering knowledge in a world filled with other doing the same thing is to convince them that yours is better then theirs. Could you imagine if a school of fish argued about which way to turn? I thought this chapter was fascinating. Debate, what a wonderful thing, much like natural selection it allows us to weed out those ideas and thoughts that are flawed. By using our collective minds we are able most of the time to sift through a endless stream of thoughts and keep the ideas that make sense and dispose of those that do not. I think these tools of language may be the most important in the development of humans. At one point I believe that science made the most of them through the scientific method were the winner of a argument was the person who could prove that they were correct. A cooperative melding of the minds for the greater understanding of the world we inhabit is one of our greatest achievements as a species. Unfortunately it seems these days that the person who wins is the one who is simply better at using those tools in a persuasive manner, regardless of how wrong their idea may be. A colorful metaphor is far more entertaining and persuasive than facts, even if its a lie. Language can be a dangerous thing and those who have the talent and charisma to use it can gain power and control not just of a conversation but of the people who listen to it, lawyers and politicians being prime examples. I wonder though if their isn't more to be said in the application of persuasion in education. Obviously debate is central for a good learning environment, problem based learning has a its heart learning through group discussion and debate to build critical thinking skills. Persuasion though can be a useful tool for a teacher too, not just lawyers and politicians.
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