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How to Disagree

hierarchy-argument

Paul Graham has a great piece on how to disagree with people in the best possible way.

He provides a hierarchy, with 7 being best:

  1. Name-calling
  2. Ad hominem
  3. Responding to tone
  4. Contradiction
  5. Counterargument
  6. Refutation
  7. Refuting the central point

The TL;DR here is to evaluate any argument you’re having with someone, and see where each participant is in the hierarchy, and work to get to refuting the central point.