Free will and the art of persuasion

In this discussion we will define two opposite forms of persuasion while considering the essential role that volition plays during each.

POINTS OF DISCUSSION

The nature of volition

• Volition as cognitive self-regulation
• The primary choice as the choice to engage one's rational faculty
• Subsequent choices as both caused and free

Rational persuasion as an appeal to facts and logic

• The dependence of rational persuasion on the volitional choices of the subject
• How can one engage another person's rational faculty during a process of persuasion?
• A subject's cognitive context as an aid or obstacle to persuasion
• How can one improve one's rate of success during a process of rational persuasion?

Irrational persuasion: techniques that bypass a subject's volitional process

• Appeals to emotion
• Neologisms
• Character defamation
• Intentional use of informal logical fallacies

Exponents of irrational persuasion

• The Sophists
• Psychopaths
• Politicians (most)
• Businessmen (most)

Implications for action

• In personal relationships
• In personal choices
• In political choices

AN IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING NO-SHOWS
Unfortunately, there is a longstanding problem in our group with large numbers of people who sign up frivolously and neither cancel nor show up, leading to large waiting lists of others who lose their opportunity to attend. Please note that going forward, those who sign up and neither cancel nor show up will be permanently removed from the group. Also, if you need to cancel, please have the courtesy to give at least 24 hours' advance notice rather than canceling immediately before the event, so those on the waiting list have an opportunity to attend.