استخدام المقارنة والتعريف

الحركة التي تفوز بحجج حول الكلمات

• ليست العديد من الحجج نزاعات حول الحقائق على الإطلاق.
• They are disagreements about what a word covers — fair, effective, necessary. They are disagreements about what a word covers — fair, effective, necessary.
• Defining the term is how you move the argument to ground where evidence decides. Defining the term is how you move the argument to ground where evidence decides.

If “fair” means three different things, an argument that never defines it has three games sharing one ball. If “fair” means three different things, an argument that never defines it has three games sharing one ball.

كتابة مقارنة

• State the category in the first sentence, before either subject appears. State the category in the first sentence, before either subject appears.
• Then measure both on it, in the same order, in the same terms. Then measure both on it, in the same order, in the same terms.
• End by saying what the comparison decided — a comparison that decides nothing was decoration. End by saying what the comparison decided — a comparison that decides nothing was decoration.

كتابة تعريف

• Name the term and say what it must include for the argument to work. Name the term and say what it must include for the argument to work.
• Show why a looser definition would let something through that should not pass. Show why a looser definition would let something through that should not pass.
• Then apply your definition to the case — that application is where the marks are. Then apply your definition to the case — that application is where the marks are.

طريقتان يفشل فيهما التعريف

• Defining a word nobody disputes wastes a paragraph — check that the term is genuinely contested. Defining a word nobody disputes wastes a paragraph — check that the term is genuinely contested.
• Defining a term to suit your conclusion is visible to a reader and costs credibility. Defining a term to suit your conclusion is visible to a reader and costs credibility.
• A good definition is one an opponent could accept before seeing where it leads. A good definition is one an opponent could accept before seeing where it leads.

التحقق من فقرة

• Comparison: cover one subject. Does the category still make sense on its own? It should. Comparison: cover one subject. Does the category still make sense on its own? It should.
• Definition: would your opponent accept this definition in the abstract? If not, it is loaded. Definition: would your opponent accept this definition in the abstract? If not, it is loaded.
• Both: what did this paragraph settle that the previous one had left open? Both: what did this paragraph settle that the previous one had left open?