Good Questions for Collaborative Arguments

Have smarter debates in 7 themes

Ask in the setup:

Rationality

Is this just a matter of taste?

Utility

What are each of our purposes for this discussion?
Is this worth my time?

Humanity + Power

Humanise; they are at worst mistaken, not evil
Communicate as if face to face

Should we discuss this in private?
Should we discuss this in text, voice or in-person?
Are there the right social incentives for good discussion here?
Do I have an existing/possible relationship with this person?
Will we operate by the same discursive norms — charitability, conscientiousness, avoidance of rhetoric, equal airtime?

Ask in the argument:

Openness

Are you willing to change your mind?
Have you visualised being wrong?

Comprehension

What do you mean by X?
…
Can we think of examples?
Can we think of analogies?
Why is that?
What principles are at work here?
Can we think of counterexamples?
…
I understand you to be saying XYZ, is that correct? (Get confirmation)
What, in your words, is my position?

Othersiding

What are the arguments against this position?
Have you heard from the other side?
Can you think of anything in particular that would change your mind?

Highlights:

-Do you think, in principle, theres anything anyone could say to change your mind?

-Is this just a matter of taste?
-Why is that? What principles underlie or support that belief?

-How do you mean?
-Can you elaborate?
-Can you give an example?

-What do you think are the best arguments against this position?

-What, in your words, is my position?