Philosophy Toolkit: Interpretive Charity

Interpretive Charity:  A preparedness to give others the benefit of the doubt, interpreting their statements in the best possible light and on the working assumption that their thoughts are valuable.  To interpret charitably is not to read or listen uncritically, but to be disinclined to condemn others' views except as a last resort.  It is the practical basis for civility in discourse, as well as prerequisite for grasping unfamiliar texts and approaches.

One Intellectual virtue I feel that is neglected the most by philosophy students is Interpretive Charity.  Interpretive  charity is essential to philosophers in many ways.  In philosophy, and logic especially, the words used and the order they are put in can radically change the conclusion of an argument.  Because of this delicate balance, it is important to follow the basic rules of an argument.  In short, resorting to presumptuous conclusions or strong emotive discourse can ruin the validity or integrity of an argument.

That being said, I feel that the incredible range of topics that students have at the tips of their fingers (via the internet) can leave them prone to, for example, the radical or reactionary opinions of a bitter journalist or blogger, or simply limited, stereotypical knowledge about a vast number of topics;  I think it is human nature to attempt to simplify and organize knowledge within our brains, and this has become increasingly difficult in a very complex  society.

 In conclusion,  I found interpretive charity an interesting topic in the Toolkit, for the following reasons:  In a subject that requires the arguer to abstain from emotive and personal (in a biased or contemptuous way) discourse,  the world we live in today surrounds us with influential media aimed to capture interest, not inform, and leads many simplified and unsubstantiated opinions about some of the world's most complex problems.  I think it is very important to use interpretive charity more often, as we are often ignorant of the value of a statement we do not understand.  We need to resist the urge to dismiss ideas we do not care for simply because they are complicated, or contradictory to our own.