Arguing Quote by William J. Murray
“If you do not assume the law of non-contradiction, you have nothing to argue about. If you do not assume the principles of sound reason, you have nothing to argue with. If you do not assume libertarian free will, you have no one to argue against. If you do not assume morality to be an objective commodity, you have no reason to argue in the first place.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Philosophy of Argument, William J. Murray, 2005
Argues that without basic logical and moral assumptions, meaningful debate cannot occur.
In simple terms: Without shared assumptions, debate fails.
Key Takeaway
Establish common ground before arguing.
Themes
logic
philosophy
debate
assumptions
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- academic discussions
- legal disputes
- ethical debates
- public policy
Key Concepts
non‑contradiction
free will
objective morality
Questions to Reflect On
- Which assumptions do you consider essential for debate?
- How do differing assumptions affect discourse?
A Different Perspective
Assumes everyone accepts these assumptions, which may not be true.
