Thinking method · Heinrichs, Thank You for Arguing

Character, emotion, logic

The three appeals, and noticing which one is actually doing the work on you. Reading anything that persuaded you before you had assessed it.

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The three appeals, and noticing which one is actually doing the work on you.

The steps

1. Character — why should they trust the speaker? Shared values, or demonstrated competence.
2. Emotion — what is the audience feeling, and what does the argument want them to feel?
3. Logic — what is the actual reasoning, separated from the other two?
4. On something persuading you: strip the first two and see whether the third stands alone.

When to use it

Reading anything that persuaded you before you had assessed it.

What it will not do

Knowing the appeals makes you harder to move, including by good arguments. Use the logic check, not cynicism.

Where it comes from: Heinrichs, Thank You for Arguing. Described in our own words.