Commitments Flashcards
What is a commitment?
A commitment is a dialectical obligation: a proposition that I am bound to defend in case it is challenged and I cannot retract without logical reasons; it’s what a participant in a dialogue holds as true and thus accepts and is dismissed to defend in case it is challenged.
When does a commitment happen?
An argued is committed to a statement when he is bound to defend it. This happens either when 1) he makes it himself; 2) agrees to it when made by someone else; 3) makes or agrees to other statements from which it clearly follows; 4) takes it for granted; or 5) someone else takes it for granted.
What are commitments in dialectical terms?
Commitments are the dialectical image of the logical concept of truth and the psychological notion of belief.
What is the purpose of argument?
An argument is intended to modify what an interlocutor accepts or is committed to starting from his or her existing commitments which can include encyclopedic information, generalizations, definitions and the use of words, and values and hierarchies thereof.
How can previous commitments be drawn?
Previous commitments can be drawn from evidence of previous dialogues or by presumption, namely relying on what is commonly accepted in a given culture (dark side commitments).
Why are commitments important?
The way I behave is a sign of my stable disposition - commitments build up my character or ethos. So we need to be very careful with what we say. However it is important to not forget that commitments are contextualized.
