steelman

Strengthen opposing argument

To steelman an argument is to present the strongest possible version of an opposing view before responding to it—the opposite of a strawman.

The practice shows intellectual honesty: Before I critique her position, let me steelman it.

A steelman is such a strengthened version of someone else's argument: That's a fair steelman of the libertarian case.

argumentation

empathy

Sharing another's emotions

understandingMental comprehension of something
fairnessJust and equal treatment
objectivityFreedom from personal bias

charity · open-mindedness · nuance · counterargument · dialogue · good-faith · perspective-taking · cogent · soundness · validity

rhetoric

persuasion

Convincing through reasoning

concessionYielding a point
acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
rapportHarmonious mutual connection

trust · credibility · ethos · bridge-building · discourse · dialectic · interlocutor · debate · rebuttal · refutation

metallurgy

alloy

Metallic combination

tensileCapable of elongation
carbonSixth element, atomic symbol C
stainlessFree from discoloration

galvanized · structural · girder · beam · rebar · hardened · corrosion-resistant · welding · forging · smelting

Opposites

argumentative representation

steelmanstrawman

Deliberately weakened counterargument

straw man · strawman argument · caricature · misrepresentation · distortion

intellectual honesty

steelmanbad faith argument

sophistry · demagoguery · motivated reasoning · cherry-picking · quote mining

Family

steelmaking, steelmaker

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Rated G