Stuck in a heated philosophical debate? Here is how 'Straw Man' and 'Steel Man' might just save the conversation
If you've ever found yourself mid-debate, frustrated and misunderstood, chances are you were dealing with a straw man—and no, that's not a Halloween prop or a country fair game. In the philosophical and rhetorical world, the straw man is the age-old trick of misrepresenting someone's argument so badly that it becomes easier to tear down. But what if we told you there's a nobler, smarter, and ultimately more respectful way to debate? Welcome to the world of steelmanning.
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The Science of Better Arguments: From Fallacies to Fairness
A
straw man argument
simplifies, exaggerates, or distorts someone's point to the point of absurdity—making it easier to ridicule or refute. It's like arguing that vegetarians want all carnivores arrested or that environmentalists are against electricity. These are not real arguments; they're hollow stand-ins, designed to win points, not understanding.
Enter
steelmanning
—the intellectual antidote to lazy argumentation. This isn't just semantic judo. It's about engaging with the
strongest possible
version of your opponent's claim, even if they haven't made it that clearly themselves. And according to the late philosopher
Daniel Dennett
, it's not just good manners—it's essential to
meaningful conversation
.
Daniel Dennett's Four-Step Guide to Arguing Like a Philosopher
Back in 2013, Dennett laid down four rules that should guide any
productive philosophical exchange
. First and foremost, try to express your opponent's position so clearly and generously that they might say, 'I wish I'd said it like that.' Then, identify the common ground you share. Third, acknowledge what you've learned from their perspective. Only after all that—yes, only then—should you offer critique or rebuttal.
Dennett wasn't inventing a new trend; he was reviving the
Socratic method
. Socrates, as recorded by Plato, spent more time clarifying and reinforcing his opponent's claims than tearing them down. The purpose? To make the dialogue meaningful, not theatrical.
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— rmnth (@rmnth)
Why It Matters: Debate is Not a Battlefield
The real power of steelmanning lies in its respect for truth over ego. While the straw man lets you score quick wins, it does so at the cost of
intellectual honesty
. You're not just defeating a weaker version of your opponent's argument—you're avoiding the real one. In
political discourse
, especially, this has become epidemic. Scholars Robert Talisse and Scott Aikin even identified a newer variation called the
selection form
—picking the weakest, most fringe views from the opposing side and pretending that they represent the whole.
Worse still is the
hollow man
, where you invent an argument out of thin air and refute it triumphantly. You'll recognize it in statements that begin with 'some people say…' or 'they believe that…' followed by an absurd position no one has actually taken. It's intellectual shadowboxing, impressive only to the person doing it.
And then there's
nutpicking
—a cherry-picked parade of irrational or extreme voices used to paint an entire group as misguided. It's less a debate and more a smear campaign disguised as logic.
iStock
While the straw man lets you score quick wins, it does so at the cost of intellectual honesty. You're not just defeating a weaker version of your opponent's argument—you're avoiding the real one.
Steeling the Mind, Strengthening the Dialogue
Steelmanning, by contrast, is an act of intellectual generosity. It forces you to confront not just what's wrong with your opponent's views, but what might be right. In doing so, it sharpens your own reasoning, reveals hidden assumptions, and encourages growth on both sides.
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Even if your conversation partner hasn't presented their argument perfectly, steelmanning invites you to dig deeper—to find the gold hidden under poor phrasing or emotional delivery. And in a world increasingly driven by echo chambers, memes, and hot takes, the ability to think charitably might just be the skill we all need most.
So next time you're stuck in a heated conversation, resist the urge to burn down a straw man. Instead, build a steel one—and see how far both of you can go.
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Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
How Modi govt mastered art of ideology and balance of power
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Soon after the oath ceremony, PM Modi put out a statement on X, '...I look forward to serving 140 crore Indians and working with the Council of Ministers to take India to new heights of progress.' The third term of the NDA began with the sceptics and its opponents alluding to the coalition compulsions and suggesting that given their history of changing partners, the allies could rock the boat sooner than later. The TDP had walked out of the NDA in 2018, citing the delay in granting special status to the Andhra Pradesh and the JDU broke ties with the BJP in 2013 and 2022. But as it completes one year in office, (and its 11th since 2014), the BJP has not only kept its friends close, but by deputing opposition lawmakers as India's ambassadors post Operation Sindoor, defanged the critics to a considerable extent. With the passage of contentious bills such as the one to amend the Waqf Board, it has also proved that its numerical strength (or the lack of it) in Parliament is not an impediment to carrying out its ideological agenda. Walking the tight rope of politics and coalition Although the BJP always referred to its government as a coalition of partners, in 2014 and 2019 it did not require support from other parties to form government. That changed in 2024, when the BJP won just 240 out of the 543 seats and was short of the halfway mark of 272. It had to rely on partners and the NDA with a tally of 293 staked claim to form the government. Party leaders concede that the coalition now is significantly different as the BJP has to ensure that its work goes on, while also ensuring that the impression is not that it is going an extra mile to appease alliance partners. 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The message was clear: allies or not, the BJP would continue to focus on welfarism. The BJP continued to flaunt its social welfare credentials and commitment to ensuring that the benefits of government schemes reach the 'last man in the queue', a concept called 'Antyodaya', preached by party's ideological father Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. The party deftly used Antyodaya to justify the government's decision to conduct caste enumeration along with the decadal census. In May, the cabinet committee on political affairs gave its consent to caste census, a key demand of the opposition and the BJP's own allies, the JDU and the Lok Jan Shakti Party. While the opposition hurried to claim credit for the announcement that came ahead of the Bihar polls later this year; the government claimed the count will help plan better for the marginalised. Addressing the CMs of NDA ruled states on May 25, PM Modi said it will be an exercise that is a step towards bringing the marginalised into the mainstream. Issues of ideological commitment were not sidestepped either. The opposition's strong resistance notwithstanding, the government was successful in getting Parliament's nod for the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. The BJP claimed the amendment was an example of balancing ideology with reform. 'The amendment freed Waqf properties from being run as fiefdoms. It sought to ensure the welfare of women and the poor, but it was painted by the opposition and those with vested interests as an anti-Muslim decision,' said the leader quoted above. The matter is now being examined by the Supreme Court. Multiple party leaders and said the government's focus on manufacturing and indigenisation, in addition to the thrust on infrastructure, has been a game-changer that has helped the BJP expand its foothold and consolidate its gains. 'There was a time when a mere reference to nuclear energy elicited sharp other countries including France want to work together with us on developing small modular nuclear reactors. Our prowess in defence production is being acknowledged, take BrahMos (missile), there are countries in South Asia that are now looking at India to buy...' said a second functionary in the government. After doing business with the Philippines, India is now negotiating a deal with Vietnam for the sale of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. 'The thrust to become AtmaNirbhar (self-reliant) has been a major shift in policy making. We are an attractive investment destination, we are a lucrative market, and we are also manufacturers and producers...,' the second functionary said. 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Diplomacy and trade After PM Modi in his address to the nation asserted that 'terror and talks cannot go together' and indicated that there will be no rethink on putting the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance, the party and the government proclaimed that it was time to accept the new normal. Seven delegations of 50 lawmakers and former ministers from across the political spectrum and former diplomats were sent to 33 countries to shine the spotlight on the necessity and need for India's new counter-terrorism doctrine. 'Diplomacy is no longer left to just diplomats. The PM on his visits abroad, often tells the diaspora to leverage the soft power of diplomacy and become India's decision to send opposition lawmakers was a masterstroke to show how democracy is thriving in India. And we are getting a positive response from countries about Operation Sindoor,' said the second functionary quoted above. The functionary said efforts to revisit the IWT that lays down the water sharing contours between India and Pakistan have been made for decades owing to changes in the climate as well as demography, but it is for the first time that India leveraged its position to use the treaty along with the military strikes to signal its 'seriousness about national security'. Former Ambassador Ashok Sajjanhar said sending the delegations has conveyed to the world India's zero tolerance to terror policy. Referring to the April 22 terror attack that killed 26 civilians, as one that was traumatic for the country, he said the response of operation Sindoor from the 7 to the 10th of May was a remarkable success. '…Both on the 7th morning when Indian missiles were able to demolish and annihilate nine of the terrorist hideouts and strongholds both in the heart of Pakistan, as well as in PoK and then on the 10th morning, when Indian weaponry was able to attack 13 airfields of Pakistan and make them completely unserviceable. So, while on the 22nd, it was a very traumatic experience for the country, the manner in which the defence forces acquitted themselves so creditably that gave so much satisfaction to people.' He also credited PM Modi's two visits to the United States, his visit to France and Russia as measures that helped build bilateral ties. 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But while India remains the fastest growing economy in the world, geopolitical disruptions (such as the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine) and the uncertainty in the global economy engendered by Trump's retaliatory tariffs pose challenges. The government is likely to be concerned about these, but a year after returning to power after the most competitive national elections since 2009, the BJP will take heart from its political and ideological successes over the past 12 months.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Aam Aadmi Party has anti-national mindset, says Ashu
Punjab Congress working president and the party's candidate from Ludhiana West, Bharat Bhushan Ashu on Thursday said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has always had an 'anti-national' mindset and it can go to any extent to win the elections. Replying to a question about CM Bhagwant Mann reportedly questioning the success of Operation Sindoor, Ashu said, there was nothing unusual or surprising about his (CM's) statement, as the AAP has always had an anti-national mindset. Ashu was interacting with reporters after addressing a workers meeting during his campaign tour in the constituency. He pointed out, when India launched surgical strikes on terrorist camps inside Pakistan in 2019, AAP supremo had also demanded the proof of surgical strikes when Pakistan itself had already admitted that India had attacked the terrorist camps in that country. The senior Congress leader observed that there was a pattern in Mann's statements that first he insulted the Hindu tradition of applying sindoor (vermillion) and now he is questioning the success of Operation Sindoor. 'Why would anyone do that if he does not have some different and deeper designs?' he asked, while observing that the AAP leaders have a record of trying to pander to the anti-national elements at the time of elections. 'But let me tell them, they are badly mistaken as people of Punjab in general and Ludhiana West in particular will not tolerate anything that smacks of being anti-national,' he warned, adding that AAP is trying to play with the fire. Military should be above party politics: CM Mann Addressing the media on Thursday, CM Bhagwant Mann denounced the BJP's recent act of distributing sindoor as a political stunt, saying such symbolic gestures have no place in a democratic government. Mann took sharp aim at the BJP leadership, particularly PM Narendra Modi, for allegedly politicising the armed forces. 'Have you ever seen any former PM don a military uniform?' Mann asked. 'The current PM is shamelessly using the military's honour as a political prop. This is a dangerous precedent. The military must remain apolitical and above party politics.' While reaffirming his deep respect for the armed forces, Mann clarified that his criticism was aimed at politicians misusing the military's image for electoral gains, not at the soldiers themselves. 'We salute the armed forces for their courage and dedication, but we must also protect their dignity by keeping them out of political games,' he stated.
The Print
2 hours ago
- The Print
Military must not be politicised, but BJP milking Operation Sindoor: Bhagwant Mann
'Have you ever seen any former prime minister donning a military uniform….? But now the uniform is being used for political gains. It should not happen,' he said. 'Such politics should not be done. I salute the armed forces. But there should be no politicisation of the army,' he said. Ludhiana, Jun 5 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Thursday asserted that there should be no 'politicisation' of the armed forces, even as he accused the BJP of milking Operation Sindoor for political gains. Armed forces fight for the country, and they have no connection with politics, he asserted. The BJP had earlier attacked Mann for his 'one nation, one husband' remark, terming it 'disgraceful.' The BJP said the chief minister 'insulted' the widows of those killed in the Pahalgam attack and demanded an apology from him. On Tuesday, Mann sparked a controversy when he accused the BJP of seeking votes in the name of 'sindoor' (vermilion) and asked if it had started a 'one nation, one husband' scheme. The CM, again on Wednesday, took a jibe at the BJP, saying this was the first time that an Indian delegation had been sent abroad to explain the country's victory in a conflict. Meanwhile, Mann also targeted the Akali Dal, accusing it of bringing gangsters into Punjab. 'The gangsters that are infamous today came into existence during Akali's tenure. Drugs were also brought in by them,' he alleged. He also recalled the Nabha jailbreak, blaming the Akalis for the incident. 'These people have ruined Punjab. They neither built any schools nor colleges. They handed over roads to private companies, promoted sand and land mafias, and disrespected religion. 'They seized control of Sikh institutions and ignored the orders of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. How can these people save Punjab? In fact, Punjab needs to be saved from them,' Mann alleged. Earlier, several local Congress workers and leaders joined the AAP in the presence of the Punjab chief minister. Among those who joined the party were Simmi Chopra Pashan, Vinayak Pashan, Chanderjit Karan, Ranbir Singh and Manish Aggarwal. PTI COR CHS VN VN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
