From a very young age I always saw my father as a very argumentative person. It seemed as if every topic that came up throughout my life turned into a debate between me and my father. As I grew older, I became a very accomplished debater. I knew that every time I came to my father with a problem, question, or request I had to be fully prepared to engage into a deep discussion. It seemed as if he always took the other side of whatever issue I was talking to him about. It wasn’t until later in life that I discovered what a benefit this had been while growing up and what an impact it would make in my life later on. I realized as I grew older that when a problem or question arose I became a much better critical thinker. I would analyze and debate decisions with myself when my father wasn’t around.
After reading the topic of argument and the problem of truth, my eyes opened to a deeper understanding of what had really occurred. My dad took on the role of Socrates’ way of thinking and philosophizing. By always taking a point opposite of my own, it forced me into thinking beyond the issue at hand. During our debates, I was required to think beyond my initial thoughts or opinions. I knew that if he was going to ultimately agree with my decision it would require me to analyze all aspects of the argument. To find an ultimate truth, or right answer, requires that we not only seek the best solution to a problem, but we also must take into account our own values, assumptions, and be willing to change our minds in the end (Ramage, Bean, and Johnson 16).
To this day I often get the same reaction from people that I first assessed against my father. People think I am argumentative from time to time, but I have realized that just going along with an idea without presenting the other side of an argument, lets people get away with not fully thinking their position through. I believe that the benefits that I have gained from constantly being challenged on my ideas as a child and young adult have helped me become a more successful person. I would challenge anyone to become more “argumentative” and not accept everything at face value. You will probably be amazed at the resulting “truth” that you end up finding during these discussions.
Ramage, John D., John C. Bean, and June Johnson. Writing Arguments: A Rhetoric with Readings. 8th ed. New York: Pearson/Longman, 2010. Print
