Counterarguments

Chapter 7 covers counterarguments. A counterargument can also be called a rebuttal and is often used in conversations and formal arguments. In the courtroom, these counterarguments are used all the time. But in our everyday lives, we use counterarguments to “predict” the outcome of a particular situation. Since it is more common to argue with someone other than ourselves we can refute an argument in two ways; indirectly and directly. The book lists multiple ways to refute an argument; however I believe the best way is to refute indirectly by reducing to the absurd. The book describes this approach as “showing that at least one of several claims is false or dubious, or collectively they are unacceptable, by drawing a false or unwanted conclusion from them.” (Epstein, p. 150) In previous chapters, in order for an argument to be good, its premises must be plausible. In this case, it fails which makes any argument constructed in this matter is bad. For example, some parents believe abortions are bad, because they fear their teens will begin to use them as a contraceptive. On the other hand, parents feel that abortions will promote the promiscuity of their daughter. Some can argue for the first, but would be unsure about the second, because it can be dubious for reason of opinion.