There seems to be an art in the process of debating over ideas. I’ve noticed the side that wins an argument isn’t necessarily the one that’s actually right. Sometimes—maybe even often times—the side that has mastered the art of debate is the side that wins. And that’s great for the winner of the debate, but it’s not great for the promotion of truth. In the debating over ideas, truth can easily get trampled in the process.
I’ve watched quite a number of debates on Youtube videos over various topics. I usually have a settled opinion of my own beforehand. What surprises me is how many times the side I’m on ends up losing and the other side just ends up mopping the floor with them. I’m thinking, “How did you lose that debate? You had a mountain of evidence behind you. The facts were stacked in your favor, and the other guy ended up making you look ridiculous.” Of course, this is when self-reflection sets in and I’m forced to remember all the times I’ve lost an argument with someone even though I know I was on the side of right. As frustrating as it is to watch, it’s even more frustrating when it happens to you. In fact, it’s the same scenario that’s happened to me as I’ve watched happen to others. I have all the right facts and all the right evidence, but somehow the other guy goes away confident he’s won the battle.
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Certainly, there’s a degree of salesmanship involved here. And if there’s anything I’m not, it’s a salesman. But a truly skilled debater can talk their way out of anything. They’re just really good at sounding like they’re right. I, on the other hand, can be right, but by the way it appears no one would ever know it. I guess part of it’s because I’m an honest debater. I attack the facts head-on. The other side can circle around the facts and talk about everything but what’s actually pertinent to the topic. And this is how arguments are often lost—even good arguments. But what’s most unfortunate isn’t that I end up losing, or some other guy on the side of right ends up losing, but that the truth ends up losing. This is the truly unfortunate consequence in all of this. Because when truth loses in the arena of ideas, we all lose.
I think central to the identification of truth in a debate is being able to discern which one is wanting to promote truth, and which one is just there to make a sale. I’m convinced that people who argue against the truth aren’t always convinced that they’re right. They’re just happy if they can make it appear that you’re not. They have a really low bar to clear; they don’t have to be on the side of right; all they have to do is make it look like you aren’t. They’ll take their swings and punches at truth, but at the end of the day they’ve really got nothing. So, don’t be fooled by the good debater. All kinds of sophistry and antics may be deployed, but when all is said and done the truth will be the one left standing.