We have been discussing the strategies that people in society use to persuade others. In class, we have chosen stances on topics and will participate in debates on Monday. As I’ve been teaching you since I've met you, stating opinions is simply not enough in our world. You need to support your statements with solid reasoning. This is the difference between a fool and a wise person. Plato once said, “Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools speak because they have to say something.” Think about what this means. Let it marinate!
I want you to pretend that a group of educated individuals are discussing the benefits of reading, and a person walking by blurts out “I don’t like reading” just to complain. That person is being foolish. His/her opinion contributes nothing whatsoever to an otherwise intelligent conversation. However, the wise person—even if he/she did not like reading—would think about the reasons behind why he/she does not like reading before interrupting and making an argument. Our society can only succeed when people accept differing opinions, but people must at least ground those opinions in reason. Unnecessary complaints and statements make me question the degree to which wisdom is still valued in our world.
While we are on the topic of wisdom (and persuasion), I feel that it’s appropriate to share this video. Watch it. (The visuals start at 25 seconds into the clip.) I hope that you realize it's about more than just wearing sunscreen. Always consider the deeper meaning...
-Ms. Sanford
I want you to pretend that a group of educated individuals are discussing the benefits of reading, and a person walking by blurts out “I don’t like reading” just to complain. That person is being foolish. His/her opinion contributes nothing whatsoever to an otherwise intelligent conversation. However, the wise person—even if he/she did not like reading—would think about the reasons behind why he/she does not like reading before interrupting and making an argument. Our society can only succeed when people accept differing opinions, but people must at least ground those opinions in reason. Unnecessary complaints and statements make me question the degree to which wisdom is still valued in our world.
While we are on the topic of wisdom (and persuasion), I feel that it’s appropriate to share this video. Watch it. (The visuals start at 25 seconds into the clip.) I hope that you realize it's about more than just wearing sunscreen. Always consider the deeper meaning...
-Ms. Sanford