In this chapter the concept of what drives reason and beliefs when an argument is present comes from a worldview. Each individual person has a worldview in which they make reasonable or unreasonable decisions. This worldview is something that they people hold on to because is it "common" to them. Worldview's are also a factor on how a person perceives commonsense. When a person is making critical decisions they depend on this common sense because it is what they are comfortable with. Their experiences, beliefs, culture, and norms are what drive these decisions. Another key factor on what drives an individuals idea of reasoning is their belief system. On page 27, the author states, "People construct their own realities and then proceed to defend these realities against alternative perspectives". This is an important factor to show that an individuals basis of forming an argument comes from their overall experience of life. Without these experiences a person cannot relate to arguments that they are for or against.
When the mind of an individual person is made up it has the ability to blind the reality of an argument or situation. On page 29, the author days, "Our minds creates its own reality to serve its needs". This presents the case that our mind is a powerful "illusion organ" as they said, to drive us away from concrete evidence in an argument. When making a decision there are serval receptors in our brain firing at the same time, making us nervous, anxious, and ultimately could lead us to making the wrong decision.
This chapter puts argumentation into the perspective of why people make the decisions they do and shows the process of it. It opens the opportunity to understand that an individuals judgement comes from their "genetic make-up, environments in which you have lived in, and worldviews" (Pg.36). These are all powerful concepts in which a person who is making an argument has to understand and take into consideration when presenting one.
When the mind of an individual person is made up it has the ability to blind the reality of an argument or situation. On page 29, the author days, "Our minds creates its own reality to serve its needs". This presents the case that our mind is a powerful "illusion organ" as they said, to drive us away from concrete evidence in an argument. When making a decision there are serval receptors in our brain firing at the same time, making us nervous, anxious, and ultimately could lead us to making the wrong decision.
This chapter puts argumentation into the perspective of why people make the decisions they do and shows the process of it. It opens the opportunity to understand that an individuals judgement comes from their "genetic make-up, environments in which you have lived in, and worldviews" (Pg.36). These are all powerful concepts in which a person who is making an argument has to understand and take into consideration when presenting one.
I think that you provided a very thorough summary of what the chapter discussed in regards to "worldviews," how they can differ for different people in different situations, and how that can effect one's ability to present or analyze arguments.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I'd add to your analysis ties to the section where you discussed the brain. You presented the idea that several receptors in our brain fire at the same time, which can cause us to freak out and make an unreasonable decision, but I feel like it may be important to include that, often, the problem that leads to a wrong decision isn't simply being overwhelmed, it's being overwhelmed, shutting down some of the other receptors and going with the primary receptor, which often connects with our worldviews, and may not actually be reasonable.
Also, I found it interesting that you focused on being aware of your own worldviews to try to make good, reasonable, decisions in the face of an argument. I say this because the way I wrote my chapter analysis focused on being aware of the worldviews of the people you are presenting your argument to, in order to assure that your argument is reasonable in relation to their truths, and being able to present an argument to fit a social situation. I think it's cool to be able to see an analysis of both sides!
Jorge, I especially enjoyed reading your post as you elaborated on the various driving forces that motivate people to make decisions. You mentioned the use of “worldviews” and “belief systems” as elements that impact the way people formulate their decisions. As I am also extremely intrigued by the ways in which people make decisions, I would like to expand on the factors that you mentioned about decision-making. While “worldviews” and “belief systems” do drive decisions, ultimately, the text suggests that the “purpose of argumentation is to make the best possible decisions” (Rieke, Sillars, & Peterson, 31). In other words, people form reasoning systems in order to make the decisions that they believe to be the best amongst the possible options. While the “best” possible decision is certainly impacted by a person’s worldviews and belief systems, the text states that the best decisions are also “decisions that work or do what the sphere seeks to have done” (Rieke, Sillars, & Peterson, 31). Put simply, the spheres that individuals reside in also play a huge role in determining the best possible decision. For example, a professor might have been brought up on the worldview that work and vacations do not mix. Hence, that professor might be inclined to set the due date of a major assignment to be right before the student body leaves for Thanksgiving break. However, if the majority of students in the course would prefer to use the break to work on the assignment, and the main belief in the sphere of educators is to be as accommodating to the most number of students as possible, the teacher could be persuaded to make what is believed to be a “better” decision: pushing the due date back to after Thanksgiving. Students who are aware of this view in the sphere of educators might cite other professors with later due dates as a way to negotiate with the current professor to do the same.
ReplyDeleteIn the example above, it is clear that the professor’s worldview was at odds with the views held by the sphere of educators. Hence, while you correctly identified “worldviews” and “belief systems” as the primary forces that drive decision-making and argumentation, spheres are equally as important in the holistic development of arguments and decisions.
Sources:
Rieke, R.D., Sillars, M.O., & Peterson, T.R. (2013). Argumentation and critical decision making. 8th ed., New York: Pearson.
You did a good job summarizing the concept of the chapter, and putting in solids insights and development of your idea. In your post, you've mentioned that people's decision making often associate with genetic makeup, environment, and worldviews. You make an excellent in-depth discussion of the worldview part. One thing I would like to add is that how different environment will shape people differently. I want to tell a story of my own, the culture that I came from the set being a modest person as an excellent quality of a person. I was educated to be a self-effacing person from the day I attended school. However, after I study abroad, I realized that trying to be modest is affecting my decision making. Since I want to be a humble person, I've never told people what I am good at because, in my mind, there is no "good enough," there's always "better." Therefore, even if people are asking for someone to help, also if I'm good at it, I always stay silent, because I think I am not good enough.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your topic choice and synopsis of this chapter. I especially liked when you cited the text saying, "Our minds creates its own reality to serve its needs". This connects to another article I was reading recently about how your own perception of health can determine how healthy you are. The article cited a study of overweight housekeepers, who once it was explained how much physical activity their jobs actually provide, began to lose weight, lower their cholesterol, and have much higher job satisfaction. The way we frame the reality around us ultimately effects how we end up living in it. I think you connected this concept well at the end of your post when explaining that an understanding of this notion is critical in being able to understand argumentation.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteVery good blog post. The question of what drives people’s reasoning and beliefs is very interesting for many reasons and you do a great job of exploring those reasons. Your explanation of the chapter and of the impact people’s worldview have on their beliefs and reasoning is very thorough. The way that people’s worldviews can impact their reasoning and where those worldviews come from is huge in many ways and you do a great job of showing that. As you say someone’s worldview can greatly affect even their understanding of commonsense.
The way people’s belief system affects their reasoning is also interesting and you do a fantastic job of exploring that too. How people base their reasoning on their life experiences is very interesting and the impact it can have is certainly like you describe. Overall a great blog post that explains and explores where people’s reasoning and beliefs come from. Which is of course very important to the subject of argumentation.