Ideas worth spreading

For argument's sake

1,882,333 views |

Daniel H. Cohen |

TEDxColbyCollege

• February 2013

Why do we argue? To out-reason our opponents, prove them wrong, and, most of all, to win! Right? Philosopher Daniel H. Cohen shows how our most common form of argument -- a war in which one person must win and the other must lose -- misses out on the real benefits of engaging in active disagreement.

Why do we argue? To out-reason our opponents, prove them wrong, and, most of all, to win! Right? Philosopher Daniel H. Cohen shows how our most common form of argument -- a war in which one person must win and the other must lose -- misses out on the real benefits of engaging in active disagreement.

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxColbyCollege, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

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About the speaker

Daniel H. Cohen

Daniel H. Cohen

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Philosopher Daniel H. Cohen studies language and the way we argue through reason.

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This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxColbyCollege, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.