It's just my opinion

I'm sure you've heard someone say that. "It's just my opinion." They say it in defense of their thoughts on the matter, but it's really a pretty paltry defense of one's point of view. Of course, if we are talking about licorice, or some other completely subjective matter, I suppose it's fairly defensible (what about in the case of wine - makes you wonder if taste is truly subjective). But for any matter of objectivity, it's a pretty poor basis for holding an opinion. Essentially, all you are saying is that what you believe is what you believe. Wow, thanks for that insightful little tidbit.

I was reading this interesting article in the Princeton alumni magazine about this class being taught by Robert George and Cornell West. Sounds like an amazing class. In the article, George says that you can't really hold an opinion until you can give a complete argument for the other perspective(s). And he's dead right. If you think you are right, but don't even have a clue what the other side is saying, how on earth did you come to the conclusion that you are right? I'm not sure if it's intellectual laziness or hubris (we think it, so it must be right), and it's likely a combination of both. But the next time you are in a debate with someone, and you can't even articulate their point of view, perhaps you should do a little more listening and a little less arguing.