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Sample Debate What is beauty? CHARACTERS: A) An art connoisseur. B) A business man who runs an art museum. Situation: Individual A is trying to convince B to purchase a certain painting from some other party. Debate: A: This painting is the essence of beauty; should absolutely add it to your collection. [Like every casual argument A offers incomplete reasoning.] B: Well it causes me displeasure to look at it. [B disputes the fragment of reasoning offered] A: Beauty in a painting is more than surface deep. The expression of the author with these thick brush strokes shows this work reflects the profound human condition and .... [ A shows that they are probably not disagreeing on fact, only on definition.] B: Well that's not usually what I've heard beauty used to mean. It's certainly not the criteria I use to judge beauty in a face. [B disputes again when requesting a reason-line would make more sense.] A: Well those who use the more primitive means of judging that you describe are unsophisticated. [B can reason backwards to find out exactly where the semantic issue comes into play. His goal is to have a very popular art exhibit. Beauty, for B, is only relevant if it results in such popularity. ] B: Is the painting going to be popular? [B gets right to the point.] A: I doubt the uneducated masses will recognize this amazing piece for its true ingenuity. B: Thank you for your time. [B now knows all he needs to know.] |