Don,
I approach such a person with the Socratic method.
Socratic method
n
(Philosophy) Philosophy the method of instruction by question and answer
used by Socrates in order to elicit from his pupils truths he considered to
be implicitly known by all rational beings
My first question is: What is the evidence this is Dr. Paul's intent? Can
you document it?
Warm regards, Michael
Hi Michael,
To use the Socratic method to engage people about their wrongheaded
ideas and opinions is a great idea.
I think Mary Ruwart of The Advocates suggested this in her books and
columns.
I've tried this when I ask people how they perceive libertarians. I get
such crazy answers such as libertarians are anti-government (which we
are to large extant) and anarchistic, that we love our guns, and want
to take to the hills with our hoards of gold and silver, that we're
"ultra conservatives" who don't care for the poor or needy, that we only
look after capitalists, the rich, and big businesses, and other such
malarkey.
There's a technique to correctly use the Socratic method and it
requires, above all, patience. I regret I haven't got the hang of the
Socratic method, as I'm often inpatient, too quick to correct and
lecture. I don't think I've won too many friends or "converts." Maybe
you could conduct lessons on the Socratic method in your practice.
Still, even if we correctly engage people with the Socratic method or
any other method, as I told Starchild in my "triage" reply, there will
be people who we cannot reach with our freedom messages, no matter how
hard we try. These people are "casualties" in the war over ideas. They
have "mortal wounds" that, were they in a triage situation, they would
be left to die. We should leave these people to "die" by cutting short
our conversations with them. We cannot "save" everyone, unlike the
Jehovah Witnesses. :-p
Talk to you.
Alton
--- In lpsf-discuss@yahoogroups.com, drmedelstein.threeminutetherapy@...
wrote:
Don,
I approach such a person with the Socratic method.
Socratic method
n
(Philosophy) Philosophy the method of instruction by question and
answer
used by Socrates in order to elicit from his pupils truths he
considered to
be implicitly known by all rational beings
My first question is: What is the evidence this is Dr. Paul's intent?
Can
you document it?
Warm regards, Michael
From: Defliberty
To: lpsf-discuss@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2012 3:49 PM
Subject: [lpsf-discuss] Outreach Question: Ron Paul / Ending the War
on
Drugs
LPSF,
Last night, a friend, whom I recently renewed a long-broken friendship
(We
had gone years without speaking to each other because of arguments
over
political and lifestyle differences), called to question my support of
Ron
Paul and Paul's efforts to end the War on Drugs. Though my friend
listens
intently to every word of all democrat and republican debates, he
stated:
"Ron Paul wants to legalize heroin so that little kids can walk into
Kroger
and buy heroin, like candy, off the shelves." My friend wanted to know
how I
can support Paul's position. I, like you, am well aware that my
friend's
characterization of Paul's stance on the War on Drugs is a calumny
against
Ron Paul. Fortunately, either my friend's cellphone batteries died or
he
hung up, we never had the conservation. (The thought crossed my mind
that
renewing this friendship may have been a mistake.)
Here's some background information on my friend: He's white, 45 years
old
and divorced (his ex-wife is a lawyer). He is a former lawyer, a
former tax
accountant, is studying for a masters degree in divinity and is a
Ph.D.-level student in gerontology. He had a narcotics problem for
several
years and is in a Narcotics Anonymous 12-step program and blames his
abuse
of pills on genetics and the "disease of addiction." His heroes are
Ted
Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln. He is pro-war, voted for Obama and
believes G-d
supports the social security system and the welfare system.
If you encounter a friend/person who more-or-less fits this
description,
presents a similar argument and demands that you explain your support
for
Ron Paul and your opposition to the War on Drugs, what would you say?
How