Press "Enter" to skip to content

How can we have better conversations? | Daniel Herrmann | TEDxQuestU


we are social creatures go to a friend

we are social creatures go to a friend tried to be her to build a bridge across

tried to be her to build a bridge across

tried to be her to build a bridge across the agora to cross river or

the agora to cross river or

the agora to cross river or philosophizing the agora we heard in the

philosophizing the agora we heard in the

philosophizing the agora we heard in the conversations about the world around us

conversations about the world around us

conversations about the world around us about ourselves

about ourselves

about ourselves the monkey station is the most common

the monkey station is the most common

the monkey station is the most common medium through which we communicate with

medium through which we communicate with

medium through which we communicate with each other in this I will be speaking to

each other in this I will be speaking to

each other in this I will be speaking to you about conversation a few months ago

you about conversation a few months ago

you about conversation a few months ago as I was in the cafeteria here at Qwest

as I was in the cafeteria here at Qwest

as I was in the cafeteria here at Qwest I overheard a conversation between two

I overheard a conversation between two

I overheard a conversation between two of my friends they were arguing about

of my friends they were arguing about

of my friends they were arguing about whether or not some specific policy of

whether or not some specific policy of

whether or not some specific policy of the American government was good for

the American government was good for

the American government was good for back beam questions they’re both

back beam questions they’re both

back beam questions they’re both relatively educated intelligent people

relatively educated intelligent people

relatively educated intelligent people and so they only presented their

and so they only presented their

and so they only presented their arguments for and against and began

arguments for and against and began

arguments for and against and began evaluating and disagreeing with the

evaluating and disagreeing with the

evaluating and disagreeing with the other’s argument even though they both

other’s argument even though they both

other’s argument even though they both listened to the other person they still

listened to the other person they still

listened to the other person they still disagree to the argument they thought

disagree to the argument they thought

disagree to the argument they thought the other person’s argument didn’t work

the other person’s argument didn’t work

the other person’s argument didn’t work I watched the conversation complete

I watched the conversation complete

I watched the conversation complete spiral out of control surely it would

spiral out of control surely it would

spiral out of control surely it would seem to think if my friend just

seem to think if my friend just

seem to think if my friend just understood what I was saying he would

understood what I was saying he would

understood what I was saying he would see the reasoning behind my argument and

see the reasoning behind my argument and

see the reasoning behind my argument and agree with me needless to say his

agree with me needless to say his

agree with me needless to say his conversation didn’t go as I there so I

conversation didn’t go as I there so I

conversation didn’t go as I there so I walked in it they both felt very sadly

walked in it they both felt very sadly

walked in it they both felt very sadly this is not an isolated incidents I’ve

this is not an isolated incidents I’ve

this is not an isolated incidents I’ve seen many frustrating conversations

seen many frustrating conversations

seen many frustrating conversations personally involved in many more I

personally involved in many more I

personally involved in many more I imagine we all have please raise your

imagine we all have please raise your

imagine we all have please raise your hand if you’ve ever been a frustrating

hand if you’ve ever been a frustrating

hand if you’ve ever been a frustrating conversation yeah pretty much everyone

conversation yeah pretty much everyone

conversation yeah pretty much everyone it’s a common problem and it sucks it

it’s a common problem and it sucks it

it’s a common problem and it sucks it feels like those people in the cafeteria

feels like those people in the cafeteria

feels like those people in the cafeteria conversation though you feel under and

conversation though you feel under and

conversation though you feel under and people just harass what you were saying

people just harass what you were saying

people just harass what you were saying they would see your reasoning and agree

they would see your reasoning and agree

they would see your reasoning and agree with you after games are far too many

with you after games are far too many

with you after games are far too many frustrating conversations I decided I

frustrating conversations I decided I

frustrating conversations I decided I could do better

could do better

could do better his 10x clock is part of my a particular

his 10x clock is part of my a particular

his 10x clock is part of my a particular the focus of the talk have better

the focus of the talk have better

the focus of the talk have better conversations specifically I’m gonna be

conversations specifically I’m gonna be

conversations specifically I’m gonna be talking to you about conversations at

talking to you about conversations at

talking to you about conversations at the cafeteria conversation furnace well

the cafeteria conversation furnace well

the cafeteria conversation furnace well attended one in which both parties are

attended one in which both parties are

attended one in which both parties are seeking to understand issue or an idea

seeking to understand issue or an idea

seeking to understand issue or an idea better than they did before it often

better than they did before it often

better than they did before it often this takes the form of providing

this takes the form of providing

this takes the form of providing arguments for one side of an issue or

arguments for one side of an issue or

arguments for one side of an issue or another and then evaluating the

another and then evaluating the

another and then evaluating the arguments to see what works this is

arguments to see what works this is

arguments to see what works this is obviously different from other kinds of

obviously different from other kinds of

obviously different from other kinds of conversations such as conversations

conversations such as conversations

conversations such as conversations there is fun and playful or

there is fun and playful or

there is fun and playful or conversations in which you’re trying to

conversations in which you’re trying to

conversations in which you’re trying to blow off steam to a friend for the

blow off steam to a friend for the

blow off steam to a friend for the person of this talk I will be focusing

person of this talk I will be focusing

person of this talk I will be focusing on some secret conversations ultimately

on some secret conversations ultimately

on some secret conversations ultimately then the goal of introducing the

then the goal of introducing the

then the goal of introducing the conversation is for all parties to

conversation is for all parties to

conversation is for all parties to become better person idea or subject and

become better person idea or subject and

become better person idea or subject and serving civil and in good spirits

serving civil and in good spirits

serving civil and in good spirits conversation to achieve this goal have a

conversation to achieve this goal have a

conversation to achieve this goal have a loosely call good warez conversations

loosely call good warez conversations

loosely call good warez conversations which people get frustrated or little to

which people get frustrated or little to

which people get frustrated or little to no progress is made on understanding

no progress is made on understanding

no progress is made on understanding issue

issue

issue I will loosely call back the FedEx event

I will loosely call back the FedEx event

I will loosely call back the FedEx event is questioning the norm

is questioning the norm

is questioning the norm if the normos bad conversations which

if the normos bad conversations which

if the normos bad conversations which unfortunately it seems to be what can we

unfortunately it seems to be what can we

unfortunately it seems to be what can we do about them this is clearly an

do about them this is clearly an

do about them this is clearly an important problem that conversations

important problem that conversations

important problem that conversations have bad consequences

have bad consequences

have bad consequences that conversations can lead to issue

that conversations can lead to issue

that conversations can lead to issue between friends one in a discussion you

between friends one in a discussion you

between friends one in a discussion you don’t feel hurt or appreciatively bad

don’t feel hurt or appreciatively bad

don’t feel hurt or appreciatively bad conversations coming to the litical

conversations coming to the litical

conversations coming to the litical issues when people at different side of

issues when people at different side of

issues when people at different side of an issue are unable to come to an

an issue are unable to come to an

an issue are unable to come to an agreement it has been

agreement it has been

agreement it has been common ground who wish to converse and

common ground who wish to converse and

common ground who wish to converse and that conversation is finding 10 action

that conversation is finding 10 action

that conversation is finding 10 action when groups of people are unable to

when groups of people are unable to

when groups of people are unable to decide what to do most simply absolutely

decide what to do most simply absolutely

decide what to do most simply absolutely secret conversations don’t achieve their

secret conversations don’t achieve their

secret conversations don’t achieve their goal what is the point in trying to have

goal what is the point in trying to have

goal what is the point in trying to have a transient conversation if know what

a transient conversation if know what

a transient conversation if know what you’re seeking is taking place so the

you’re seeking is taking place so the

you’re seeking is taking place so the question becomes how can you have fewer

question becomes how can you have fewer

question becomes how can you have fewer bad conversations and more good

bad conversations and more good

bad conversations and more good conversations

conversations

conversations the answer is acquits you today is

the answer is acquits you today is

the answer is acquits you today is logical my thesis is a better

logical my thesis is a better

logical my thesis is a better understanding of logic in up us have

understanding of logic in up us have

understanding of logic in up us have better conversations logic is something

better conversations logic is something

better conversations logic is something that is familiar to most of us in formal

that is familiar to most of us in formal

that is familiar to most of us in formal casual way but there is an entire field

casual way but there is an entire field

casual way but there is an entire field of study devoted strictly speaking logic

of study devoted strictly speaking logic

of study devoted strictly speaking logic is the study of arguments it lets you

is the study of arguments it lets you

is the study of arguments it lets you ask to answer questions like does the

ask to answer questions like does the

ask to answer questions like does the certain twerk in what situations in sari

certain twerk in what situations in sari

certain twerk in what situations in sari does the certain fall apart and how can

does the certain fall apart and how can

does the certain fall apart and how can I make this argument stronger this helps

I make this argument stronger this helps

I make this argument stronger this helps clarify things who wish it behind the

clarify things who wish it behind the

clarify things who wish it behind the idea that logic and others have better

idea that logic and others have better

idea that logic and others have better conversations logic consists of tool to

conversations logic consists of tool to

conversations logic consists of tool to evaluate arguments and true scene

evaluate arguments and true scene

evaluate arguments and true scene conversations rely on evaluating

conversations rely on evaluating

conversations rely on evaluating arguments to turn the truth of something

arguments to turn the truth of something

arguments to turn the truth of something so where do we go from here I’m gonna

so where do we go from here I’m gonna

so where do we go from here I’m gonna talk any of two examples in this talk on

talk any of two examples in this talk on

talk any of two examples in this talk on how understanding simple closets and

how understanding simple closets and

how understanding simple closets and logic plus have better conversations

logic plus have better conversations

logic plus have better conversations specifically I look at notions have lost

specifically I look at notions have lost

specifically I look at notions have lost the validity and multiple soundness and

the validity and multiple soundness and

the validity and multiple soundness and the important distinction between the

the important distinction between the

the important distinction between the two there’s all too often missing

two there’s all too often missing

two there’s all too often missing conversations

conversations

conversations an argument is logically valid if and

an argument is logically valid if and

an argument is logically valid if and only if the conclusion necessarily

only if the conclusion necessarily

only if the conclusion necessarily follows from the premises

follows from the premises

follows from the premises thus the classic syllogism all men are

thus the classic syllogism all men are

thus the classic syllogism all men are mortal Socrates is a man therefore

mortal Socrates is a man therefore

mortal Socrates is a man therefore Socrates is mortal this circuit is valid

Socrates is mortal this circuit is valid

Socrates is mortal this circuit is valid is if we agree that a all men are mortal

is if we agree that a all men are mortal

is if we agree that a all men are mortal and B Socrates is a man then we must

and B Socrates is a man then we must

and B Socrates is a man then we must agree that some races moral

agree that some races moral

agree that some races moral however the following argument is also

however the following argument is also

however the following argument is also valid all potatoes are said to be space

valid all potatoes are said to be space

valid all potatoes are said to be space aliens my left arms and tato therefore

aliens my left arms and tato therefore

aliens my left arms and tato therefore my left arm

my left arm

my left arm space in this art is perfectly about

space in this art is perfectly about

space in this art is perfectly about because if it is indeed true that all

because if it is indeed true that all

because if it is indeed true that all potatoes are sending space aliens and my

potatoes are sending space aliens and my

potatoes are sending space aliens and my left arm is potato then it must be true

left arm is potato then it must be true

left arm is potato then it must be true to my left arm as a sentence basically

to my left arm as a sentence basically

to my left arm as a sentence basically this brings us the difference between

this brings us the difference between

this brings us the difference between validity and soundness an argument is

validity and soundness an argument is

validity and soundness an argument is logically sound if it only if it is

logically sound if it only if it is

logically sound if it only if it is valid and the premises are true

valid and the premises are true

valid and the premises are true thus presumably the argument about

thus presumably the argument about

thus presumably the argument about Socrates being mortal is worth caring

Socrates being mortal is worth caring

Socrates being mortal is worth caring about my left arm being a sentient space

about my left arm being a sentient space

about my left arm being a sentient space alien is hopefully not sound probably

alien is hopefully not sound probably

alien is hopefully not sound probably the alcohol URI argument is also sound

the alcohol URI argument is also sound

the alcohol URI argument is also sound if I give you a TEDx talk then I’m gonna

if I give you a TEDx talk then I’m gonna

if I give you a TEDx talk then I’m gonna live I am giving a TEDx talk

live I am giving a TEDx talk

live I am giving a TEDx talk therefore my left understanding validity

therefore my left understanding validity

therefore my left understanding validity can really help us in arguments in

can really help us in arguments in

can really help us in arguments in conversations if both you and the person

conversations if both you and the person

conversations if both you and the person with whom you are conversing

with whom you are conversing

with whom you are conversing understanding the minute II then you can

understanding the minute II then you can

understanding the minute II then you can both evaluate the converse it the

both evaluate the converse it the

both evaluate the converse it the arcticus Newton for that conversation

arcticus Newton for that conversation

arcticus Newton for that conversation and agree on whether or not there about

and agree on whether or not there about

and agree on whether or not there about if you both agree that they are valid

if you both agree that they are valid

if you both agree that they are valid and yet you still disagree on the

and yet you still disagree on the

and yet you still disagree on the conclusion that you disagree on the

conclusion that you disagree on the

conclusion that you disagree on the soundness of the area that is you

soundness of the area that is you

soundness of the area that is you disagree on the primitive on the

disagree on the primitive on the

disagree on the primitive on the premises an important kind of progress

premises an important kind of progress

premises an important kind of progress is up remember a primitive is a very low

is up remember a primitive is a very low

is up remember a primitive is a very low level kind of starting point is

level kind of starting point is

level kind of starting point is something that one simply takes as given

something that one simply takes as given

something that one simply takes as given without with money any kind of Gallifrey

without with money any kind of Gallifrey

without with money any kind of Gallifrey for example some people think that

for example some people think that

for example some people think that happiness is good and that this is just

happiness is good and that this is just

happiness is good and that this is just a better world if they just ate this

a better world if they just ate this

a better world if they just ate this without our even for an hour against and

without our even for an hour against and

without our even for an hour against and this is one of their primitives so if we

this is one of their primitives so if we

this is one of their primitives so if we understand primitives then we can deep

understand primitives then we can deep

understand primitives then we can deep deeper in conversations and find the

deeper in conversations and find the

deeper in conversations and find the difference between our primitives and

difference between our primitives and

difference between our primitives and those of others we can actually

those of others we can actually

those of others we can actually the real crux of the argument and thus

the real crux of the argument and thus

the real crux of the argument and thus of the conversation lies this is what

of the conversation lies this is what

of the conversation lies this is what the diagram shows though both arguments

the diagram shows though both arguments

the diagram shows though both arguments have conversation may be valid

have conversation may be valid

have conversation may be valid people have different premises to which

people have different premises to which

people have different premises to which they then they can still reasonably

they then they can still reasonably

they then they can still reasonably disagree on the conclusions I suspect

disagree on the conclusions I suspect

disagree on the conclusions I suspect that what happened in the cafeteria

that what happened in the cafeteria

that what happened in the cafeteria conversation I introduced earlier is

conversation I introduced earlier is

conversation I introduced earlier is something like this though both of the

something like this though both of the

something like this though both of the articles put forward by the parties were

articles put forward by the parties were

articles put forward by the parties were more or less valid they each have

more or less valid they each have

more or less valid they each have different premises to which they were

different premises to which they were

different premises to which they were committed and thus they disagreed on the

committed and thus they disagreed on the

committed and thus they disagreed on the conclusion but because they disagreed on

conclusion but because they disagreed on

conclusion but because they disagreed on the conclusion they thought that they

the conclusion they thought that they

the conclusion they thought that they disagreed about whether or not their

disagreed about whether or not their

disagreed about whether or not their arguments worked however if we replace

arguments worked however if we replace

arguments worked however if we replace the informal notion of whether or not an

the informal notion of whether or not an

the informal notion of whether or not an argument works with the more formal

argument works with the more formal

argument works with the more formal notions of the Lybian soundness we can

notions of the Lybian soundness we can

notions of the Lybian soundness we can see between that confusion my friends

see between that confusion my friends

see between that confusion my friends have been better versed in logic and

have been better versed in logic and

have been better versed in logic and they have applied their knowledge in the

they have applied their knowledge in the

they have applied their knowledge in the situation they would have found that

situation they would have found that

situation they would have found that even though they both valid arguments

even though they both valid arguments

even though they both valid arguments they did have different primitives to

they did have different primitives to

they did have different primitives to which they’re committed

which they’re committed

which they’re committed they disagreed on the purpose of

they disagreed on the purpose of

they disagreed on the purpose of governance thus when they disagreed

governance thus when they disagreed

governance thus when they disagreed about whether or not the specific

about whether or not the specific

about whether or not the specific American policy was good or bad they

American policy was good or bad they

American policy was good or bad they were really disagreeing about whether or

were really disagreeing about whether or

were really disagreeing about whether or not the policy fulfill the purpose that

not the policy fulfill the purpose that

not the policy fulfill the purpose that the government and because they had

the government and because they had

the government and because they had different ideas about what that was they

different ideas about what that was they

different ideas about what that was they disagree on the conclusion so we’ve seen

disagree on the conclusion so we’ve seen

disagree on the conclusion so we’ve seen at least three big pieces where better

at least three big pieces where better

at least three big pieces where better understand logic helpless and better

understand logic helpless and better

understand logic helpless and better situation conversations first understand

situation conversations first understand

situation conversations first understand it oceans of validity and soundness and

it oceans of validity and soundness and

it oceans of validity and soundness and help us understand the other various

help us understand the other various

help us understand the other various perspectives

perspectives

perspectives secondly if we dig deep and we figure

secondly if we dig deep and we figure

secondly if we dig deep and we figure that we have the same primitives that we

that we have the same primitives that we

that we have the same primitives that we should agree on the conclusion in third

should agree on the conclusion in third

should agree on the conclusion in third if we dig it in front we have different

if we dig it in front we have different

if we dig it in front we have different primitives

primitives

primitives then we’ll at least understand why we

then we’ll at least understand why we

then we’ll at least understand why we disagree and we won’t be talking past

disagree and we won’t be talking past

disagree and we won’t be talking past each other

each other

each other so we’ve seen a basic understanding of

so we’ve seen a basic understanding of

so we’ve seen a basic understanding of just two of the concepts of logic

just two of the concepts of logic

just two of the concepts of logic we have better conversations while

we have better conversations while

we have better conversations while checking out this have better personal

checking out this have better personal

checking out this have better personal conversations because when you disagree

conversations because when you disagree

conversations because when you disagree with right you can actually dig deep and

with right you can actually dig deep and

with right you can actually dig deep and figure out their primitives on and thus

figure out their primitives on and thus

figure out their primitives on and thus understand them better understanding

understand them better understanding

understand them better understanding prudence can help us have better

prudence can help us have better

prudence can help us have better political conversations because when you

political conversations because when you

political conversations because when you were arguing someone of a different

were arguing someone of a different

were arguing someone of a different political slant you can actually find

political slant you can actually find

political slant you can actually find what the different primitives are and

what the different primitives are and

what the different primitives are and stop back talking past each other but

stop back talking past each other but

stop back talking past each other but actually made to the other person

actually made to the other person

actually made to the other person finally this can lead to having other

finally this can lead to having other

finally this can lead to having other plans of action because when you

plans of action because when you

plans of action because when you understand the values of different

understand the values of different

understand the values of different parties in a conversation then you’re

parties in a conversation then you’re

parties in a conversation then you’re able to effectively create plans that

able to effectively create plans that

able to effectively create plans that help achieve common goals so I’ve given

help achieve common goals so I’ve given

help achieve common goals so I’ve given you my reasons for why I think logic

you my reasons for why I think logic

you my reasons for why I think logic will help us have better conversations

will help us have better conversations

will help us have better conversations by evaluating my argument and trying to

by evaluating my argument and trying to

by evaluating my argument and trying to decide whether or not you agree with it

decide whether or not you agree with it

decide whether or not you agree with it you are already engaging with logic

you are already engaging with logic

you are already engaging with logic logic is inescapable so let’s say you

logic is inescapable so let’s say you

logic is inescapable so let’s say you agree with me what actual concrete steps

agree with me what actual concrete steps

agree with me what actual concrete steps can you take to achieve this well first

can you take to achieve this well first

can you take to achieve this well first you can learn a little object learning

you can learn a little object learning

you can learn a little object learning logic and one of the most empowering

logic and one of the most empowering

logic and one of the most empowering experiences of my life

experiences of my life

experiences of my life in particular if you’re curious about

in particular if you’re curious about

in particular if you’re curious about this I would recommend the book of rule

this I would recommend the book of rule

this I would recommend the book of rule book for running it’s by Anthony Weston

book for running it’s by Anthony Weston

book for running it’s by Anthony Weston second you can learn not only how to

second you can learn not only how to

second you can learn not only how to recognize good arguments but also to

recognize good arguments but also to

recognize good arguments but also to recognize common these are all capable

recognize common these are all capable

recognize common these are all capable article policies and there are plenty of

article policies and there are plenty of

article policies and there are plenty of resources on the line out here finally

resources on the line out here finally

resources on the line out here finally you can challenge yourself to start

you can challenge yourself to start

you can challenge yourself to start using logic explicitly in your

using logic explicitly in your

using logic explicitly in your conversations and challenge your friends

conversations and challenge your friends

conversations and challenge your friends to do the same whether you want to have

to do the same whether you want to have

to do the same whether you want to have better conversations with your friends

better conversations with your friends

better conversations with your friends the questioning me or society as a whole

the questioning me or society as a whole

the questioning me or society as a whole you have to help create a culture that

you have to help create a culture that

you have to help create a culture that values in logic program quite raising

values in logic program quite raising

values in logic program quite raising the quality of your own conversations

the quality of your own conversations

the quality of your own conversations you can help raise the quality of all

you can help raise the quality of all

you can help raise the quality of all our conversations furthermore logic

our conversations furthermore logic

our conversations furthermore logic isn’t just a powerful tool for having

isn’t just a powerful tool for having

isn’t just a powerful tool for having conversations there can be a powerful

conversations there can be a powerful

conversations there can be a powerful tool for making your arguments about

tool for making your arguments about

tool for making your arguments about things you care about more

things you care about more

things you care about more Mayson whether you’re fighting for civil

Mayson whether you’re fighting for civil

Mayson whether you’re fighting for civil rights promoting effective environmental

rights promoting effective environmental

rights promoting effective environmental legislature we’re trying to convince

legislature we’re trying to convince

legislature we’re trying to convince your friend to vote for one candidate

your friend to vote for one candidate

your friend to vote for one candidate over another would have been useful in

over another would have been useful in

over another would have been useful in the last election then you can make sure

the last election then you can make sure

the last election then you can make sure your arguments are sound and this gives

your arguments are sound and this gives

your arguments are sound and this gives your opponents less room to attack you

your opponents less room to attack you

your opponents less room to attack you so if that’s my talk I want to say thank

so if that’s my talk I want to say thank

so if that’s my talk I want to say thank you and enjoy the other speakers and

you and enjoy the other speakers and

you and enjoy the other speakers and listen to them think about the logic

listen to them think about the logic

listen to them think about the logic underlying arias and whether or not

underlying arias and whether or not

underlying arias and whether or not you’re thank you

you’re thank you

you’re thank you [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

”

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *