How to Win a Debate by Losing

We All Have Blind Spots. What Are You Going To Do About It?

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Philosophy isn’t just something we learn. It’s mostly something we do.

The ancients relied on back-and-forth dialogues and debates with fellow seekers to point out their mistakes because they realized they had blind spots.

A friend trained to spot logical fallacies and contradictions is an incredible resource.

That’s why it’s not surprising to see the Roman emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius write in his journal, “If someone can prove me wrong and show me my mistake in any thought or action, I shall gladly change. I seek the truth, which never harmed anyone: the harm is to persist in one's own self-deception and ignorance.”

This is the true spirit of philosophy. If someone beats us in a debate, we haven’t lost — they’ve given us the gift of truth, and we’ve won. Seek out those who won’t let your sloppy thinking go unremarked.

If they don’t, they’re a true friend.