Arguments are Everywhere

To complete this assignment I have chosen to use Michiko Kakutani's article, Debate? Dissent? Discussion?  Oh Don't Go There!  I chose to use this article for two reasons, first being that it was readily available, and more importantly that the class would be at least somewhat familiar with it as it was "required" reading.

Kakutani's article summarizes the writer's belief that the post- Generation X, our generation, has lost touch with the importance of argument, be it formal or informal.  Kakutani cites Neil Howe and William Strauss proposing the reason we refuse to argue is that, "millennials feel more of an urge to homogenize, to celebrate ties that bind rather than differences that splinter."  At the conclusion of his artictle, Kakutani goes as far as to cite Amanda Anderson, stating that our generation's lack of argument "...doesn't bode well for democratic practice in this country."

Although I am sure there are plenty of people that could argue Kakutani's point, I will focus on proving that the writer has formed an argument about argument.  First of all, to form an argument one must have an issue, or something to argue about.  The issue of this article is conveniently argument itself.  The second factor is having an arguer committed to his argument.  In this case the arguer is the writer, Kakutani.  No argument would be effective without an audience, otherwise the arguer would look like a whiner who hates his life.  The audience is Kakutani's readers, in this case myself as well as our entire class.  Common ground is also essential to argument, and it exposes itself in this argument in that we all want our way of life to remain the same or improve.  Our Generation may feel that too much argument divides us, Kakutani argues the opposite.  What's important is that we all have something at stake in the argument.  A forum is necessary to argument as well, Kakutani's forum is a printed article which allows him to narrow his audience to those at least narrowly interested enough to read it.  Finally, an argument should inspire some change in the audience.  This argument is certainly not fit to start a riot, but perhaps it would at least bring new issues to light for its readers, and maybe change the mind of those who are biased from the beginning.

I personally think its a waste of time to define what an argument is, without following such an analysis by questioning its legitimacy.  Kakutani's argument is largely opinion based, and therefore a reader must question his qualifications to discuss such a topic.  Kakutani does the smart thing and draws on expert analysis and opinion to curb doubt in his personal qualifications.  By clearly stating a point to argue and proposing supporting arguments (I assume to be valid) not only is Kakutani's article an argument, but a sound one as well.