Re:My Left Kidney
by Aurornis on Saturday October 28, 2023 @10:29AM
(#38050083)
Revealing the thought process is part of the persuasive technique.
It’s another rationalist writing theme: By taking the reader through a meandering path to the conclusion, some times with twists and turns and backtracks, you give the impression that you’ve covered every possible angle already. The conclusion feels unarguable because the author has walked you from beginning to end with clear logical steps.
The hidden problem is in what has been omitted. We’re supposed to assume the author included all relevant information and presented it faithfully. What really happens is that writers tend to downplay evidence that disagrees with their opinions. If they can’t avoid it, they include it with a suggestion that they tried to consider it but it they imply that it wasn’t reasonable.
That’s where the footnotes come in: By acknowledging it in the footnotes they can signal that they are aware of it but relegated it to the footnotes as a defensive measure.
Revealing the thought process gives misleading confidence in the conclusion if you’re assuming that the thought process isn’t prone to the same opinions and biases as the conclusion.
It’s another rationalist writing theme: By taking the reader through a meandering path to the conclusion, some times with twists and turns and backtracks, you give the impression that you’ve covered every possible angle already. The conclusion feels unarguable because the author has walked you from beginning to end with clear logical steps.
The hidden problem is in what has been omitted. We’re supposed to assume the author included all relevant information and presented it faithfully. What really happens is that writers tend to downplay evidence that disagrees with their opinions. If they can’t avoid it, they include it with a suggestion that they tried to consider it but it they imply that it wasn’t reasonable.
That’s where the footnotes come in: By acknowledging it in the footnotes they can signal that they are aware of it but relegated it to the footnotes as a defensive measure.
Revealing the thought process gives misleading confidence in the conclusion if you’re assuming that the thought process isn’t prone to the same opinions and biases as the conclusion.