Modern American society is one big competition for people’s attention. From phones to television to social media, our attention span decreased to nothing. At the same time, the so-called culture wars deepened the divide in our two party system. While political division exists all through US history, it is much more extreme than just twenty years ago. The rise of hostile political media contributes in part; fake news and foreign nations meddling in our elections plays a role; but in my opinion the main corrupter falls on political sound bites. Politicians, public relations consultants, and media personalities love distilling complex, societal issues down into small, simple phrases and slogans. Often, these slogans sound like propaganda instead of a nuanced, reasoned argument, and these sound bites allow people to feel well-read and in-touch with current politics when they are not. In Think Again, Walter Sinnott-Armstrong teaches us how to evaluate arguments based on principles of logic. Why Think Again? By using contemporary examples, Professor Sinnott-Armstrong lays out a process to improve political debating.
TL;DR
Think Again by Walter Sinnott-Armstrong argues effectively for improving recognition, evaluation, and consideration of political arguments. This timely, nonpartisan book of instructions teaches logical argument construction in a relatable, understandable method and is badly needed for tense political discussions. Recommended.
From the Publisher
Our personal and political worlds are rife with arguments and disagreements, some of them petty and vitriolic. The inability to compromise and understand the opposition is epidemic today, from countries refusing to negotiate, to politicians pandering to their base. Social media has produced a virulent world where extreme positions dominate. In most of these disagreements, parties yell at each other, very little progress is made, and the end result is a hardening (or further widening) of positions. There is however, such a thing as ‘good’ arguments. Arguments that offer reasons on both sides can ultimately allow for some mutual understanding and respect, and even if neither party is convinced by the other, the possibility of compromise can result.
Sinnott-Armstrong’s book shows the importance of good arguments and reveals common misunderstandings about them. Many people see an argument just as a means to persuade other people or beat them in an intellectual competition. Sinnott-Armstrong sees them as much more essential-as a means to play a constructive role in the way we interact with each other. He shows the way out of the impasse by introducing readers to what makes a good argument. In clear, lively, and practical prose, and using plentiful examples from politics, popular culture, and everyday life, he introduces the reader to topics such as: what defines an argument; the role that reasons play in arguments; the pieces that make up good arguments; what arguments can accomplish effectively; the difference between essential terms like deductive, inductive, and abductive in creating an argument; and how to spot fallacies in others’ arguments. Armed with these tools, Sinnott-Armstrong wants readers to be able to spot bad reasoning and bad arguments, and to advance their own view in a forceful and logical way-with an eye toward effective resolution of disputes.
Think Again
Think Again’s primary goal is to increase political debate for the entire political spectrum; it is a nonpartisan approach to bridge the divide. Professor Sinnott-Armstrong succeeds by returning to basic principles. If this book had a slogan, it’d be “First, seek to understand, then, to be understood.” In Sinnott-Armstrong’s opinion, being charitable in arguing is the path back to civil political discourse. To achieve this, we must ask questions of our political opponents. Even labeling the person as an opponent goes against the spirit of this book.
I found this text refreshing. In a political climate where invective, derision, and outright lies are standing operating procedure, this nuanced, balanced book feels mature and necessary. Professor Sinnott-Armstrong shows that political debate improves without name calling, without contempt. Because he uses contemporary examples, he gives us a step-by-step method for how to and how not to argue. I loved this book.
But Why Think Again
For the first roughly third of the book, Professor lays out an argument for why we should debate. This section is the most important one in the book and separates it from other logic texts. It surveys the current state of political debate, and it provides a look at the pitfalls in which we currently engage. In this section, I saw a number of my own faults, and that led me to evaluate my own conduct. For me, that alone made the book a success. This section sets the book apart from another book on introductory logic. People should read this book before debating on Facebook or Twitter. It, without doubt, can improve our ability to argue, but it also requires study, work, and maintenance. This book requires a reread to learn all the methods. I struggled recognizing suppressed arguments; so, that presents an opportunity for personal improvement.
Writing
This book has a dry, academic tone but also a compassionate voice. It reminds me of all the best professors from my college days because Sinnott-Armstrong cares about the material and conveying the information. Though it read slowly, the pace picks up speed near the end. Through the use of contemporary examples, the reader can follow along to Walter’s method.
Conclusion
For a book that aims to teach, the key question of any review is: Does it work? Did it achieve its goal? The answer, resoundingly, is yes. Think Again works well as an instruction in logic, and it works well as a call to civility in political discourse. With a little work, this book can improve political literacy; it teaches us how to think critically. For anyone interested in politics, Think Again is a must have tool for the debating toolbox.