Bob’s Primary Keynote
“The Lost Art of the Legitimate Argument”
People most often think of an argument as an angry, shouting match. Others confuse an argument with an assertion. However, a legitimate argument is different from shouting matches, assertions, and even explanations.
An argument must provide supporting evidence, reasons; it will appeal to the audience’s emotion to motivate a response; it must involve the speaker’s integrity to maximize his influence.
Patrick Henry’s “Give me Liberty” speech is a good example.
- Importance of ethics: positive influence.
- Reasons to support the arguments (“Facts are stubborn things.” John Adams; C. S. Lewis even called facts “inconvenient.”)
- Competence in knowing the issues, recognize