bigDog
Elder Lister
I think we should define terms here so that we can talk about the same thing.
1. Issues x is what we disagree on.
2.a It follows that we are debating issue x.
2.b A debate consists of either inductive or deductive arguments that support or oppose the issue.
3. A debate may have one or more arguments
4. It follows that there must be argument(s) over issue x.
Let's use the child's example. You might convince her to make her bed for any number of reasons; she could be eaten by an ogre, bad girls go to the devil, it's prudent to do it, etc. Once she grows up she will tell you that ogres don't exist or the devil does not exist or even that it's prudent to have someone else make your bed. All those are arguments.
We are not talking about morals here sir. We are talking about truthfulness of the premises that make an argument.
One of the tenets of an argument is to have the same definition of every word. Let's get that agreed so that we can proceed.
