"Win Every Argument: The Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking" by Mehdi Hasan
Oct 25, 2023
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Mehdi Hasan, MSNBC host and advocate for arguments in democracy, discusses the art of debating, persuading, and public speaking. Topics include the power of emotion in debates, the role of credibility and expertise, and the significance of the rule of three in constructing persuasive arguments.
Using emotional language and storytelling can be effective in winning an argument by appealing to others' emotions.
Challenging an opponent's credibility or conflicts of interest can be a legitimate and effective strategy in persuading others.
Deep dives
Making an Emotional Appeal
To win an argument and persuade others, it is important to make an emotional appeal by engaging their emotions through language and storytelling. According to Aristotle, focusing on pathos or emotion is key. People are driven by feelings rather than logic, so using emotional language and sharing personal emotions and stories can be effective in getting others on your side.
Play the Ball, Not the Man
In debates or arguments, it is essential to focus on the argument itself rather than attacking the person making the argument. However, audience perception of a speaker's credibility or ethos plays a significant role in persuasion. Therefore, challenging an opponent's credibility or conflicts of interest can be legitimate and effective in winning an argument.
Concede and Reframe
Conceding a point in an argument can actually give you an advantage by catching your opponent off guard. By conceding, you can unbalance your opponent, surprise them by preempting their points, and reframe the entire argument in your favor. These are rhetorical judo moves that can leave your opponent floundering and increase your chances of winning.
MSNBC’s Mehdi Hasan isn’t one to avoid arguments. He relishes them as the lifeblood of democracy and the only surefire way to establish the truth. Arguments help us solve problems, uncover new ideas we might not have considered, and nudge our disagreements toward mutual understanding. A good argument, made in good faith, has intrinsic value ― and can also simply be fun. Whether you are making a presentation at work or debating current political issues with a friend, Mehdi Hasan will teach you how to sharpen your speaking skills to make the winning case.