Interpret an argument in its strongest plausible form before answering it.
Also called steelmanning. Its practical benefit is selfish: an argument built against the strongest version of the opposition survives contact, and one built against the weakest does not.
In practice
- A barrister who prepares against the weakest version of the other side's case is surprised in court by the strongest.
- A team that can state the objection to their own design better than its critics can has usually found the real flaw first.
- Standing
- Also known as steelmanning.
- Further reading
- Wikipedia
- Subject
- Decision-making & Reasoning
- Essay
- Razors, rules and the tools of careful thought