First, what do good arguers win when they win an argument?

He calls Allah to witness again and again that he cherishes good intentions in his heart, whereas, in fact, he is the deadliest opponent of the Truth.

And I'm not just an academic, I'm a philosopher, so I like to think that I'm actually pretty good at arguing.

Is Maksim Kononenko just an articulate contrarian, or does he criticize oppositionists for some genuine purpose?

Now, can you imagine an argument in which you are the arguer, but you're also in the audience, watching yourself argue?

Now, this form of argument gives some people the impression that any generalization can be used for explanation. But that's not quite right. One example is Bode's Law.

And the answer is that, when an object is suspended freely in a medium where the medium is more dense than the object, then it rises. And when an object is suspended freely in a medium where the object is more dense than the medium, then if falls. So, you can explain why helium balloons rise by having as your first premise, whenever an object is freely suspended in a medium, like a gas or a

Sure, you got some pleasure out of it, maybe your ego stroked, maybe you get some professional status in the field This guy's a good arguer.

There is a man who talks well of the world to your pleasing, and makes God witness to what is in his heart, yet he is the most contentious

And among men is one whose conversation may please you in the life of this world, and he brings Allah as witness to what is in his heart, whereas he is the biggest quarreller!

And some men there are whose saying upon the present world pleases thee, and such a one calls on God to witness what is in his heart, yet he is most stubborn in altercation,

And of mankind is he whose discourse for the purpose of this world thou admirest, and he taketh Allah to witness as to that which is in his heart, whereas he is the most contentious of the adversaries.

And of mankind there is he whose speech may please you (O Muhammad SAW), in this worldly life, and he calls Allah to witness as to that which is in his heart, yet he is the most quarrelsome of the opponents.

Among the people is he whose speech about the worldly life impresses you, and he calls God to witness what is in his heart, while he is the most hostile of adversaries.

And of mankind there is he whoso conversation on the life of this world pleaseth thee (Muhammad), and he calleth Allah to witness as to that which is in his heart yet he is the most rigid of opponents.