Definition of CounterargumentAn argument against another argument or position.
There are many flavors of argument. They can be a competitive pursuit such as a debate designed to win over an audience. Alternatively, they can be a more collaborative and cooperative exercise such as a team that argues about the best way to solve a problem. The following are well known counterarguments for different types of argument including some patterns of negative counterarguments that aren't recommended but are important to know.
Cooperative Counterarguments
Counterarguments in a cooperative setting. This can mean that you are literally on the same side such as family or team setting. Cooperative counterarguments can also apply to win-win situations with other parties such as negotiating to hire a job candidate.
Agree & Extend
Agree with the other person in order to get on their side and then suggest new ways of thinking about it.I agree it's terrible, what should we do? Perhaps ...
Alternative Explanation
Offering an opposing theory or explanation.It could be that our customers just don't like our food and see nothing special in our coffee.
Challenging Assumptions
Challenging the unstated assumptions of the other side.Why do you assume that there is any market for this?
Common Interests
Emphasizing common interests in order to situate yourself with the other side.We all want to do what is best for the team but I think the best approach is ...
Counter-Narrative
Completely reimagine the story surrounding your argument.What if we aren't a cafe at all but more of a bakery that's focused on bread, pastries and other baked goods.
Framing
Carefully considering the wording of your argument in an attempt to persuade the other side.All that I'm saying is that it needs to be fixed. I've proposed one way we can get this done and I'm open to other ways if you have ideas.
Invite Reflection
Asking the other side to deeply consider their own argument.But what is that based upon? I'm trying to see your side but I just want to understand.
Numerical Counterargument
Using numerical data in a counterargument to show that it has a basis in reality.Yeah, but 78% of new businesses in this state fail within the first two years.
Open-Ended Questions
Retorting with an open-ended question that allows the other side complete freedom in their answer.But can you see any risks to that approach?
Reframing the Issue
Questioning whether you are arguing about the correct issue in the first place.Wait, why are we talking about our long term strategy when what we really need is to fix this problem first.
Socratic Retort
Using a series of probing questions to find flaws in the opposing argument.How are we going to pay for that?Can you do it?Who can do it?
Steelmanning
Steelmanning is the practice of making the other side's argument stronger before countering it.A: Let's just cheat.B: If you're saying we should find a more efficient way to do it maybe we could ...
Persuasive Counterarguments
Countering the other side in an argument when your goal is to influence an audience. For example, responding to the argument of a coworker when you are trying to influence your boss. This can leverage the well-known influencing techniques below.
Appeal to Authority
Making reference to an authoritative or high status source.So my point is that a study published by [high status institution] confirms that ...
Appeal to Popularity
Presenting your argument as being the more popular and accepted choice.Yeah, but that restaurant isn't popular. Probably for a reason.
Appeal to Self-Interest
Suggesting that your audience can directly benefit if your position is adopted.It will be much easier for our team to get funding increases each budget cycle if we take on this mission.
Appeal to Tradition
Positioning your argument as the side of stability and continuance of the status quo.We have always based our business on giving the customer a little more value than the competition. If we make the cutbacks you suggest, we'd be departing from this principle for the first time in our history.
Appeal to Urgency
Positioning your argument as an urgent need.We are already out of compliance on this and we can be audited at any time.
Emotional Appeal
Invoking an emotional response in your audience to support your position.We have never backed away from a challenge when it meant doing the right thing for our family.
Factual Rebuttal
Pointing out a factual obstacle to the other side's argument.Yes, but it would take at least 6 weeks to get a permit and we don't even know if it would be approved.
Humorous Comeback
Using humor to defuse tension, build rapport or make the other side look too serious.Well, I wish I had your enthusiasm for outdoor plumbing ...
Metaphors
Counterarguments based on a metaphor that simplifies a problem and makes it easier to understand.That's like trying to thread a needle while riding a roller coaster.
Nudges
Gentle and indirect suggestions.I don't know how you feel about it but some people say ...
Playful Retorts
Slight teasing that remains friendly. The side that remains calm and joyful may be perceived as winning an argument, particularly if the other side appears to be overly serious or flustered.Okay but you try it first. If you survive, I'll think about it.
Social Proof
Social proof is a reference to what other people are doing to support a position. People are often influenced by people and look for this type of information in decision making.I was talking to [executive] at [company] and she said they are going the same way ...
Competitive Counterarguments
Opposing an argument in a competitive situation such as a debate. Here you are obviously not holding back whereby the goal is to defeat the other side as opposed to finding some win-win compromise between two arguments.
Anecdotal Evidence
Countering with evidence based on individual experience or random examples.Really, when I visited Paris everyone was perfectly friendly to me.
Anticipating Objections
Preemptively handling likely objections that the other side may plan to make.The other side will tell you that this will increase taxes but the fact is that ...
Calls to Action
Commanding the other side to do something can serve as a counterargument.Well, why don't you get some data first!
Contradiction
Directly contradicting what the other side says.That is simply not true. There was a study done just last year that showed ...
Counterexamples
Giving counterexamples that potentially invalidate the other side's argument.Yes but what if the customer was late to the gate because we were slow to check them in? In that case, this policy makes no sense.
Fallacy Identification
Pointing out a logical fallacy or bias in the other side's argument.Why are you attacking me as opposed to my argument? Because my argument is valid and you know it.
Fear, Uncertainty & Doubt
Suggesting that risk surrounds something because it isn't popular, big or conventional.It's safer to use a platform used by millions of customers as opposed to a relatively unknown service.
Framing the Opposition
Predicting what the other side will say or questioning their motives.What they don't want you to know is ...
Redirection
Requesting that you return to your main topic when things have gone off on a tangent.Listen, I think we're getting off topic here ...
Rhetorical Questions
Asking a question that isn't intended to be answered.Would you be saying that if you weren't so rich?
Taking the High Road
Taking the high road is the practice of refusing to mirror the negative behavior of the other side.Listen, I'm not going to resort to personal insults. That's what people do when they have no valid argument.
Understatement
Making a very strong point in an understated way such that the audience may actually feel you didn't say enough. This can pull the audience to your side.Our company has had some success with this approach [referring to a massively successful strategy].
Negative Counterarguments
The use of fallacies, biases, needless negativity or overly dramatic arguments. This can be unethical or generally ineffective if the other side comes off as calm and convincing and you come off as negative, irrational or unlikable.
Ad Hominem
Criticizing the person as opposed to their argument.Yeah, but you dropped out of university so I'm not sure you fully grasp the physics here.
Argument From Ignorance
Shifting the burden of proof to the other side when it is you that has made an unproven statement.Can you prove that aliens don't exist?
Circular Reasoning
Supporting an argument with itself.We should trust them because they are trustworthy.
Defensive Retorts
Taking things too personally whereby you make the argument about you.Are you saying that I'm incompetent!
Dry Sarcasm
A retort that conveys ridicule without saying anything direct or dramatic.Yes, sounds like a lovely idea. I just hope you have a plan in case ...
Escalation
Making arguments more intense with highly emotional, dismissive or negative retorts.If you knew anything ...
False Dichotomy
Falsely claiming that there are only two options when in fact there are others.You either support this policy or you don't care about the community.
Red Herring
Introducing a completely unrelated topic as if it is relevant in order to create a distraction and associate the other side's argument with something negative.But what about the budget deficit? Don't you care about fiscal responsibility at all?
Slippery Slope
Suggesting that the other side's argument will trigger some escalating chain of negative events.If you let one student hand in their assignment late ... they will all do it ... and everyone will stop studying hard ... and eventually the entire nation will fall into complete decline.
Straw Man
Countering an argument that your opponent hasn't made.So you're saying we should all give up our cars and walk hundreds of miles every week.
Weasel Words
Use of an anonymous authority without any reference to who this might be.The science says ...
Whataboutisms
A whataboutism is a suggestion that a wrong is justified because of some other wrong.Well, what about the marketing team they also go overbudget all the time so why shouldn't we?
Summary
Counterarguments are an argument against another argument or position. These may directly address the other argument or may promote another view and position. As a form of influencing, standard persuasive techniques apply to counterarguments.
