The most famous book by Sergey Povarnin is devoted to the art of argument. Formal logic was needed at all times, even in the revolutionary era. The book “Dispute. On the theory and practice of the dispute ”was published in 1918.
It is easy to imagine how many political and scientific discussions, everyday disputes and quarrels the wonderful Russian logician has heard and seen in his lifetime.
Disputes of the 20th Century
Sergey Innokentyevich Povarnin lived a long life. He graduated from St. Petersburg University in 1890. He studied at the Faculty of History and Philology. A year later, Vladimir Ulyanov-Lenin externally passed exams at the law faculty at the same university. They were peers, representatives of one generation. Both were born in 1870, lived, worked and died in Russia.
Fate kept Sergei Povarnin. He lived to an advanced age, died in 1952. He had the title of professor of philosophy at Leningrad State University. He defended his master's thesis before the revolution, in 1916. And in 1946 he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science.
Enemy of Stagnation
“It is necessary to argue. Where there is no serious debate about state and public affairs, stagnation sets in, ” said Sergey Povarnin. The revolutionary era is a time of heated political controversy. The philosopher offers to master the technique of discussion.
Turns Povarnin to people who think. Even if they are not familiar with logic yet, everything is in their hands: another wonderful work by Povarnin “How to Read Books” (1924) helped them in this.
The cook about the art of argument wrote an amazing brochure. In a lively, clear, intelligible language, he explained which tastes are not argued about and which are argued about. With vivid examples and images.
Dispute for the sake of "sport"
Yes, says Povarnin, this type of argument - for the sake of "sports interest", for the sake of the process itself - is very common!
A good quote from The Little Humpbacked Horse: “Be merciful, brothers, let me fight a little.”
In this case, writes Povarnin, the art of argument turns into "art for art." To argue always and everywhere, with an acute desire to win - this option of a dispute has nothing to do with proving the truth of the judgment.
But there is another - the correct argument. A person in it can pursue three main goals:
- Justify your thoughts.
- Refute the ideas of the enemy.
- Become more knowledgeable.
To clarify the roots of the dispute, its main points is the primary task of discussion. Indeed, sometimes this is enough to come to an agreement in opinions. It may turn out that the contradictions were imaginary and arose only because of the vagueness of concepts.
Ability to listen and read
Povarnin’s words about the art of debate are very relevant: the most important quality of a participant in a discussion is to listen to, accurately understand and analyze the opponent’s arguments.
To listen! This is precisely the foundation of a serious discussion, according to the logician Povarnin.
Respect for the participants in the discussion, their beliefs and beliefs is not just mental sensitivity. It is not that tastes are not debated. Claiming absolute truth is a serious mistake. A false thought is sometimes only partially false. Correct reasoning may also contain a number of inaccuracies.
Ladies' or Babi's argument
Of course, Povarnin did not mean only women. Curious sophisms are used by men with no less frequency. But in women's lips, according to the logic, such manipulations sound more impressive.
The example is simple: the husband notices that the wife was unkind to the guest. Ladies' argument: "I will not pray for him as an icon." There are many ways to justify your position and explain why the guest is unpleasant. But the spouse selects the most ridiculous solution to the question. The husband did not offer to "pray" for the visitor, but merely inquired about the reason for the cold reception.
"Male" example. It is about time after the emperor’s renunciation of power.
First Interlocutor: "This composition of the government is completely unable to rule the country."
The second interlocutor: "Then you need to return Nicholas II and Rasputin."
But the first one spoke about other problems, about the competence of the new government, and not at all about a return to the past. The subject of the dispute goes aside, the incorrect debater does not argue, but simply replaces the issue under discussion.
Diversion in dispute
Who are they - saboteurs in dispute? What are they doing? These sabotages have nothing to do with the real art of argument. But they are quite common. Usually this is just a transition to the personality of the opponent. Povarnin gave an interesting classification of a variety of psychological and logical tricks, sophisms and manipulations.
Before getting into a dispute, it is necessary to take "preventive" measures to maintain self-control. The recommendations of Sergei Povarnin were relevant for all lovers of discussions - oral and written. And now for the network!
- Argue only about well-studied subjects.
- Thoroughly clarify all theses and arguments, both your and your opponent.
- Do not argue with the rude and the manipulator.
- Keep complete calm in any debate.
How not to succumb to tricks and sophisms, how not to go over to personal accusations, how to avoid a reproach for slander? Why it is better to leave some incorrect methods of debaters without special attention, and expose others? According to Povarnin, insinuations, disruption of debates, arguments for the “urban” are completely unacceptable. The protest in this kind of discussion is an absolutely normal reaction and even a duty.
