Who would hire an argumentologist?

The other evening, a new acquaintance, upon inspecting my name card, asked: "Just what is an argumentologist? Who would engage your services?" These are both questions deserving of a considered answer.

I coined the word "argumentologist" -- but it is not a frivolous or careless coinage.

The "argument" portion comes from logic, where it refers to the combination of reason and position, taken together.

The "ologist" portion of the word "argumentologist" carries the meaning "student of", as is also the case in the words "psychologist", "etymologist", "entomologist", "oncologist", "anthropologist" etc.

Thus, an argumentologist is a student of arguments. His expertise is analysing and evaluating arguments. He learns to differentiate between bad and good arguments.

Now for the second question: Who would engage an argumentologist's services?

A manager receives proposals for competing new directions or actions. He may need help with the corresponding arguments.

Two disputing parties hurl arguments at each other, making no headway in either direction. They may need help to assess who has the stronger case.

Someone is on the verge of a major life decision, and is confused by all the pros and cons of each option. He may need help to weigh the options, and to decide from among them.

A parent agonises over his work-life balance. He may need help finding the middle ground.

A student can't decide whether his teacher's or his parent's views on sex are correct. He may need help to analyse and evaluate the various arguments.

All these people, and many others, can benefit from engaging an argumentologist's services -- either to perform the analyses and evaluation for them, or to teach them how to do it for themselves.

Knowing why one believes and does what one believes and does is the only path to living a conscious life. (Caveat: One is, of course, free to live an unconscious life.)

Finally, to all those still sceptical of the benefits of engaging an argumentologist's services, let me just ask this: What are the tests for a good arguments?

Introduction

Hi,

My name is Lau Kwong Fook. I am a Singapore philosopher. I have decided to dedicate the rest of my life to promoting clear thought, and teaching people to think clearly. This is not as ridiculous as it sounds. Chess has rules, dressing has rules, mathematics has rules, music has rules. In fact, everything in life has rules. Then why is it everyone thinks thinking can be done intuitively, without reference to any rules? Clear thought is governed by rules, but these are never taught in schools. That is why everyone thinks thought is intuitive, and so they think muddle-headedly while imagining they think clearly. I have had the good fortune to have studied philosophy, and specifically logic, so I am acquainted with the rules of clear thought. I have crystallised these rules into a course entitled "NOUS: A Practical Guide to Clear Thought". A course outline can be found at this website: http://philocafesg.tripod.com/.

I host Singapore's first (and so far only) philosophy cafe. It is held on every third Wednesday of the month, at Gone Fishing Cafe, 15 Chu Lin Rd, Singapore, from 8-10pm. It's free, and all are welcome. You can find reports of the proceedings on this blog from time to time, and you are welcome to post comments.

I also create philochart puzzles. These are graphical "puzzle" representations of famous arguments by famous philosophers. Solving the puzzle will yield the argument. Almost all introductions to philosophy focus on the philosopher's position, that is, his conclusion -- and neglect his argument. This is wrong. The argument is the key. If the argument is not sound, the conclusion cannot follow, however attractive it may be. These puzzles focus on the argument, and only finally reveal the conclusion or position. It's a new way to learn philosophy.

There is one more thing I do, but it is still too early to reveal it yet. So be patient. All will be revealed shortly.

What else can be found on this blog? Why, anything else I care to put up, of course.

Hope you enjoy dipping into this blog occasionally.

See you soon.

Kwong Fook