The way I read Franklin’s quote is that if someone says “well, (factual statement X) is true, and from it I draw (unwarranted conclusion Y)”, we should claim to agree with him (because we agree with X) and act as though drawing conclusion Y is a minor flaw in his theory that doesn’t negate the fact that he’s basically correct.
But he’s not basically correct. He did invoke X, and X is true, but to say that he’s right, or even partially right, means he’s right about a substantial part of his argument, not that he’s based it on at least one statement that is true. A homeopath doesn’t become partly right just because he says “well, vaccines work by using a tiny amount of something to protect against it, so perhaps homeopathy can also use a tiny amount of a substance to protect against it”, even if the statement about vaccines is literally correct.
‘If the data is good, but the argument is not, argue the argument (e.g. by showing that it doesn’t hold water). Don’t argue about the conclusion and point to the bad argument as evidence.’ (not a rationality quote, just curious about your reaction)
The way I read Franklin’s quote is that if someone says “well, (factual statement X) is true, and from it I draw (unwarranted conclusion Y)”, we should claim to agree with him (because we agree with X) and act as though drawing conclusion Y is a minor flaw in his theory that doesn’t negate the fact that he’s basically correct.
But he’s not basically correct. He did invoke X, and X is true, but to say that he’s right, or even partially right, means he’s right about a substantial part of his argument, not that he’s based it on at least one statement that is true. A homeopath doesn’t become partly right just because he says “well, vaccines work by using a tiny amount of something to protect against it, so perhaps homeopathy can also use a tiny amount of a substance to protect against it”, even if the statement about vaccines is literally correct.
What do you think of the following?
‘If the data is good, but the argument is not, argue the argument (e.g. by showing that it doesn’t hold water). Don’t argue about the conclusion and point to the bad argument as evidence.’ (not a rationality quote, just curious about your reaction)
I think that is not what Franklin was saying.