Which of the following would be inappropriate for a rational discussion?
A) a beautifully written and well-argued essay that makes many allusions to literature
B) a formal and unadorned presentation of an argument
C) a beautifully written essay on the literature of ancient Greece that only attacks the character of a debate opponent
D) a well-written essay that focuses on presenting the results of a poll to argue that some opinion is generally unpopular

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Rhetoric has its place even in rational discussions. A well-written essay may still provide evidence for its thesis if it also provides a compelling argument. But no matter how well a speaker or writer makes use of rhetoric, if there is no rationally compelling argument in the speech or writing, then that speech or writing has no place in a rational discussion. An essay that only attacks the character of a debate opponent commits the ad hominem fallacy, and so provides no compelling argument for its conclusion.

Which of the Following Would Be Inappropriate for a Rational