Having Opinions
I just had quite a surreal (at times) conversation with a friend who said that I keep thinking that I was right. I must confess I wasn't exactly sure (am still not exactly sure) what he meant until I realised that he thought that I should make it explicit that all the stuff I said was merely my opinion. I was really confused since I thought it should be obvious that it's my opinion since I expressed it. Normally when I'm citing someone, I would say so (guess it's part of the academic training).
I thought he wanted to say that there was no nothing that we could say for certain or that there was nothing 'real' beyond each of our expressed opinion. But he said that he's not a relativist. Guess I'm confused..
On the way while cycling home, a thought came to me about my own academic training over these past years. In my undergraduate days, I was taught to have an opinion and defend it. (In O and A Levels, I merely need to reiterate and present all the arguments- 'for' and 'against' before having a cursory conclusion).
On the other hand, I have also increasingly realised that there is an inconsistency between the academia and the daily life. In our attempts to write a good piece of research, we are careful to present different arguments, hold one position and defend it. On the other hand, when we're not writing research papers, we tend to dismiss other people's claims (particularly on metaphysical matters) simply by just saying that it's just their opinion. Dismissing another person's argument by pointing out that other opinions or arguments exist is another strange way of arguing. Instead one ought to show the weaknesss of the other person's arguments.
Furthermore, it's not enough to merely state other people's arguments. It's important to 'own' those arguments. For instance, have you noticed that some of us often merely just quote verbatim from passages rather than paraphrase to show that we understand?
One scene came to my mind- after Jesus' disciples said what other people thought of Jesus. Jesus asked Peter specifically who Peter thought Jesus was. We all need to answer that question individually.. who do you think Jesus is?
Postscript:
John Piper warns against the use of religious language that we do not understand. Otherwise we merely acquire a veneer of religiousity.
(I encourage listening to the whole sermon rather than only reading the transcript. http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByScripture/10/178_The_Renewed_Mind_and_How_to_Have_It/)
I thought he wanted to say that there was no nothing that we could say for certain or that there was nothing 'real' beyond each of our expressed opinion. But he said that he's not a relativist. Guess I'm confused..
On the way while cycling home, a thought came to me about my own academic training over these past years. In my undergraduate days, I was taught to have an opinion and defend it. (In O and A Levels, I merely need to reiterate and present all the arguments- 'for' and 'against' before having a cursory conclusion).
On the other hand, I have also increasingly realised that there is an inconsistency between the academia and the daily life. In our attempts to write a good piece of research, we are careful to present different arguments, hold one position and defend it. On the other hand, when we're not writing research papers, we tend to dismiss other people's claims (particularly on metaphysical matters) simply by just saying that it's just their opinion. Dismissing another person's argument by pointing out that other opinions or arguments exist is another strange way of arguing. Instead one ought to show the weaknesss of the other person's arguments.
Furthermore, it's not enough to merely state other people's arguments. It's important to 'own' those arguments. For instance, have you noticed that some of us often merely just quote verbatim from passages rather than paraphrase to show that we understand?
One scene came to my mind- after Jesus' disciples said what other people thought of Jesus. Jesus asked Peter specifically who Peter thought Jesus was. We all need to answer that question individually.. who do you think Jesus is?
Postscript:
John Piper warns against the use of religious language that we do not understand. Otherwise we merely acquire a veneer of religiousity.
(I encourage listening to the whole sermon rather than only reading the transcript. http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByScripture/10/178_The_Renewed_Mind_and_How_to_Have_It/)
posted by Pongism at 10:18 pm
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