Steelman the Opposing Position

A straw man makes someone’s position weaker so it becomes easier to attack. Steelmanning does the opposite. It means describing the other person’s actual position as clearly and fairly as possible before responding.

Try saying, “Let me make sure I understand you,” and then summarize their view in your own words. Ask whether your summary is accurate.

Fairness does not mean inventing arguments for them or adding evidence they never gave. It means removing confusion without rewriting their position into something else.

If you cannot explain a view in a way its defender would recognize, you probably are not ready to criticize it. You can practice distinguishing fair representation from misrepresentation in LogicLab.

Practice: Summarize an opposing position in three sentences without criticizing it. Then ask, “Would someone who holds this view consider that fair?”