How to have rational discussions

Book review - by Paul Docherty

A Manual for Creating Atheists, Peter Boghossian, 2013, Pitchstone Press.

Peter Boghossian, a former philosophy professor, has created a toolkit for how to have rational conversations; providing a method for introducing doubt among those who have certainty on any topic, though religion is the most common target.

A Manual for Creating Atheists does not attempt to pull apart the tenets of any specific religion. Instead, it provides a method called Street Epistemology for engaging in rational conversations, the hoped-for side effect of which is belief revision by introducing doubt.

Many of our Sceptic, Rationalist, and Philosophical group discussions have those one or two members who really enjoy argument or debate; who may even go out of their way to be “that person”. Yes, there is a place for argument and debate when challenging those with non-evidence-based ideas, but argument and debate are not the only approaches.

Street Epistemology is a method for engaging in conversation without having win or lose arguments. Instead, it works by engaging the other party in a semi-structured process that focuses on achieving belief revision.

Most people, me included, try to avoid being “that person”, so don't tend to engage with people holding irrational beliefs. I initially resisted the Street Epistemology method after reading the book over eight years ago. I now realise that the methods have become part of my daily process when exploring ideas, as the method focuses on understanding the other person's perspective.

Hint: you don't even have to read the book...

Since publication of A Manual for Creating Atheists, a large number of resources have become available to support learning Street Epistemology. Resources include Peter Boghossian's own talks (on YouTube), and conversation examples recorded by Anthony Magnabosco (again on YouTube). There are also several internet communities and even a downloadable app available (for learning on your smartphone).

Underlying Street Epistemology is the Socratic Method - a 2,500-year-old technique for investigating truth claims that has been a bedrock of Western philosophy. Boghossian has recast the Socratic Method into a form for use when attempting belief revision of those with seemingly irrational ideas, particularly religion.

The real trick of Street Epistemology is that you don't need to have prepared answers for every religious apologetic. Religions that have survived come as packages of ideas. Religions surround themselves with pre-prepared defences and answers to the most common challenges; attacking head-on just triggers the defence mechanisms.

Peter has identified the weak spot in irrational beliefs: faith, as an unreliable method for validating truth claims. By attacking faith gently without attacking the religion itself we can bypass a religion's pre-prepared defences.

Street Epistemology should be an essential part of our toolkit as Rational, Sceptical or Philosophically minded individuals.

I recommend the study of Street Epistemology to you either by reading the relevant internet resources, watching Peter or Anthony's YouTube videos, or downloading the app - depending on what works best for you. You could also read the book.

The NZARH has purchased a copy of A Manual for Creating Atheists as it has been discovered that copies are not available in the Auckland or Hamilton public library systems.

[Editor's note] I'm hesitant to recommend Peter Boghossian to readers as he has become a somewhat controversial figure. From looking at his YouTube channel, the current featured video isn't using Street Epistemology to question religious beliefs, but to ask whether trans women should be allowed to compete in women's sports. His current arc seems to be to attack anything perceived as “woke”. Anyway, take from it what you will. The development of the Socratic Method into Street Epistemology does, in my opinion, have some useful ideas.

Paul Docherty is the coordinator of the Waikato Branch of the NZARH, and works in Information Technology as a Business Analyst.