Your opponent's view

Imagine the opposite point of view: that we can fully understand our opponent without being able to argue from their perspective.

Understanding your opponent’s perspective is crucial not only in conflict but also in everyday interactions and struggles. It allows for more empathetic and effective communication.

Steelmanning involves constructing the strongest possible version of an opponent's argument, even if you disagree with it, so you can create the best possible refutation.

This contrasts with strawmanning, where you create arguments your opponent does not hold and defeat those, distracting from their actual point.

Steelmanning encourages a deeper understanding and more productive dialogue