Appiah: “I don’t say that we can’t change minds, but the reasons we exchange in our conversations will seldom do much to persuade others who do not share our fundamental evaluative judgments already.”
Me: I agree with what Appiah because he is saying no matter what you say in a conversation you are having with someone, very little of what they say will make you change your mind or opinion about what you are talking about.
Appiah: “I am not endorsing these claims, or celebrating the argumentative impasse, or, indeed, the poverty of reason in much discussion within and across cultures. But let’s recognize this simple fact: A large part of what we do we do because it is just what we do.”
Me: Before Appiah mentioned this, he was discussing genital cutting in men and women in different parts of the country and how is was accepted there. Like he said above, “A large part of what we do we do because it is just what we do”. He was saying that the people in the countries that do genital cutting, don’t think twice about it because it’s just what they do. Coming from our view it seems unethical, but they are used to it.
Appiah: “We can live together without agreeing on what the values are that make it good to live together; we can agree about what to do in most cases. without agreeing what is right.”
Me: He is saying that a society is able to live together and not all share the same values. Some people value different things, and the are still able to live together and communicate with each other successfully.
Appiah: “The point applies as much within the West as elsewhere. American’s disagree about abortion, many vehemently.”
Me: I agree with this statement because abortion is a huge controversial topic in our society that is discussed greatly. Many people argue about what is right and wrong and both sides, pro-life or pro-choice, think that their side is right.
Appiah says that conversations can be difficult because everyone has different beliefs. Many people don’t agree with other peoples opinions and that causes conversations to become difficult.
