Wood's Blog

Dissent, Persuasion, Attrition and Acquiescence within the internal dialectic.

Plato's Phaedrus

Socrates: I agree--if, that is, the arguments that come forward to speak for oratory should give testimony that it is an art. Now I seem, as it were, to hear some arguments advancing to give their evidence that it tells lies, that it is not an art at all, but an artless routine. "Without a grip on the truth," says the Spartan, "there can be no genuine art of speaking either now or in the future."

Phaedrus: Socrates, we need these arguments. Bring the witnesses here and let’s find our what they have to say and how they’ll say it.

Socrates: Come here, then, noble brood, and convince Phaedrus, father of such fine children, that if he doesn’t give enough attention to philosophy, he will never become a competent speaker on any subject. Now let Phaedrus answer (260e-261a).


Is all inner-dialogue in the form of an argument in order to explore an idea? To learn do we simply break concepts down and relate/compare them to other knowledge for plausibility?

If we do this as a solitary activity are we more prone to create multiple personas than some one who must maintain a consistent visage with another person? Do we examine more sides of an argument when we are left to solve it in solitude rather than uniformly presenting one side of it? If the dialectic is internalized are we actually able to see all of the aspects that we need to see?

Argument is about more than fighting.

Arguing is how we learn about what is you and what is them..

Argument as Self-exploration.

Argument as a process for achieving balance.

Argument as a symptom of curiosity.

Argument as a method of acquiring power.

Argument as Abuse.

Argument as Fatigue.

Argument as Apathy.

Argument Irrelevance.

Recreational Argument.

Arguing to fill the void.

Argument as Procrastination.

Argument as Distraction.

Is all inner-dialogue used for problem-solving?

Argument as the foundation of inner-dialogue.

Argument as a constructive process rather than merely a source of conflict.

Argument as a quest for validation of the self.

Argument as a palliative for uncertainty.

Argument as a sign of misdirected aggression.

When we argue over ideologies on a blog, who are we arguing with? Ourselves? Or “them?� Who is “them?� Maybe “them� is really just your multiple “you’s.� Posted by wood0072 at December 7, 2005 6:54 PM