Question

What is the principle of charity in constructing arguments? Why is this principle necessary for advanced critical reasoning? Give examples from your own professional or personal life when the principle of charity would advance critical thinking.

Answer 1

In constructing arguments, the principle of charity involves considering speaker's statements in its best and strongest possible interpretation. In other words, the principle of charity encourages an individual to treat others as intelligent beings, capable of rational argument. This principle is necessary for advanced critical reasoning because it involves a careful analysis of the speaker's argument and an identification of any probable fallacies in the argument. The individual can then help the speaker construct the best possible argument and respond to it appropriately. In a professional setting, meetings may be conducted with respect to the implementation of a new policy. In such meetings, there may be individuals both for and against the new policy. If we were to suppose that an individual had a very compelling reason to not adopt the new policy, but was unable to articulate it adequately in his argument, the principle of charity would encourage others present in the meeting to help him put forward his argument in a better fashion. Ultimately, this can lead to the best decision making outcome for the organization.