How to Argue Well: An Interview with Matt Fradd (Video)

One of the more popular memes floating around the Internet features a young man wearing a t-shirt that reads: "I'm an atheist. Debate me."

We all know the type, which also includes not a few Catholics. The Internet is a breeding ground for fiery debate and argument, as anyone with a Facebook page and a religious or political opinion knows well. Behind the safety of a screen people just love to go back-and-forth on the big question of life. But unfortunately, most of the time these arguments devolve into unproductive screeds, complete with name-calling, poor reasoning, and INSULTS IN ALL-CAPS.

So in this digital age, how can we argue better? That's the question Matt Fradd answers in his new DVD talk, "How to Win an Argument Without Losing a Soul". With his characteristic wit and clarity—and an enviable Australian accent—he explains why arguing is good and teaches how to do it well.

Matt covers many of the most popular fallacies and explains how to spot them in others' arguments (and your own!). He shows how to infuse discussions with charity, humility, and patience. And he offers plenty of tips on encouraging fruitful dialogue instead of the empty, rhetorical death-matches many of us are used to.

Matt recently sat down with me to discuss some of the major themes in his DVD, including what makes for a strong argument, the most common fallacies today, and the benefits and drawbacks of arguing online.

 

Watch or download our interview below:

 

Video

Watch the video here (19 minutes)
 

Audio

[audio:http://BrandonVogt.com/wp-content/uploads/Matt-Fradd-Interview.mp3]
Download the interview here (19 minutes)
 

Topics Discussed:

1:08 - What is an argument and why is it valuable?
2:54 - What makes for a strong argument?
5:52 - What inviolable rules ground all fruitful dialogue?
8:08 - What is a fallacy and which are the most common today?
13:36 - What are the benefits and drawbacks of arguing online?
15:59 - How can Catholics and atheists at StrangeNotions.com argue better?
 
 

 

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Follow Matt's blog at MattFradd.com and find him on Twitter at @MattFradd. And be sure to pick up your copy of his new DVD, "How to Win an Argument Without Losing a Soul".

If you liked this discussion, subscribe free to Strange Notions via feed reader or email to ensure sure you don't miss future interviews.
 

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