In the essay called Bulverism, C.S. Lewis goes in detail on the definition of this word and what the consequences of its use are. In a quote from the essay Bulverism is described in simple terms like this, "you must show that a man is wrong before you start explaining why he is wrong. This is possibly the simplest explanation of Bulverism but just this quote can reach so many different areas and facets of life.
One example of where Bulverism runs rampant is in politics. C.S. Lewis even makes several references to politics in his essay. An example of Bulverism in politics could be the new health care reform that was recently voted on in the senate. The plan consists of thousands of pages of information and hardly any of the senators actually read what the plan consisted of. Many democrats just voted for the plan because other democrats did. Not because they know that it is the right thing to do or not. The plan was rushed to be passed and the time and effort that should go into something as important as health care was not set aside. C.S. Lewis also mentions reason as the correct way to find the rights and wrongs of something. Reason for this health plan was not properly used or explained and many questions are left unanswered. Reason must be the basis of everything and is the only way to avoid the snare of Bulverism. Neither a Democrat nor a Republican should just simply follow what their party wants and not know or understand the facts behind what they are voting for. They are elected to lead one of the biggest nations of the world. Do we really want our leaders to constantly struggle with the effects of Bulverism?
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I agree with you Nathan, and I also like the example of politics that you incorporated. Likewise, I believe that bulverism is used too much in politics, and it disturbs me to know that many politicians vote on different bills or issues based mainly on what their party's stance is on that certain issue. I admire the men and women politicains that are not afraid to take a stand and vote for what they believe in.
ReplyDeleteWhile I see what it is you are trying to get at I think that you may have missed the point entirely. In that your definition of Bulverism is wrong. You claimed that you must show that a man is wrong before you start explaining why he is wrong. However this is not Bulverism in fact it is the exact opposite. The quote you pulled from Lewis’s article was referring to the great lost art of the true argument. However while I do not see your specific example from politics as the most explicit example of true Bulverism I cannot either completely discredit it either. Because while it does not address the attack of a person instead of an argument it does quite clearly demonstrate the other half where the people have stopped caring about the true nature of argument and discussion and this is a point I think that you did make quite clearly. Honestly I must apologize for how harsh I have been in this comment but I d commend you on a few points and I agree that it is sad how bogged down in this Bulverism the leaders of one of the most powerful nations on the planet are.
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