Is it unethical for one to give persuasive reasoning in support of what one believes?

But until you can produce an angel the question is moot.

Of course you would find our own argument pervasive, so that's a moot point.

I'm not sure the context for your question, but I'd see your question more as "It is unethical to support what one believes?"

My answer would be, That depends on what you believe. Belief alone does not make it ethical or unethical. And belief alone is not a defense if it's unethical.

If you believe in hurting people, and you are trying to incite people to share your beliefs, then no matter how much you believe in it or what the justification/rationalizations are, chances are it's unethical.
:shrug:

I was thinking of ideological disputes of a theoretical nature. Sorry, I should have mentioned that in the OP.

then any argument is essentially rhetorical. If there is no real impact then there are no ethical implications.

There are no immediate practical consequences, but I don't see any reason to conclude that there are no practical consequences.

no matter what you spend it on.

Discussing and arguing theory is one thing. Making decisions about how to allocate money is entirely different.

If your question is going to change, and there are factors you haven't included, then perhaps you want to clarify your question before you ask for opinions.

If money is allocated to employ people to discuss and argue theory, then isn't one effect that people will be discussing and arguing theory?

:shrug:

Are you debating something that will result in something, or is it just an academic exercise?

Are you now suggesting that participating in discussions on a message board is "game playing" unless one has a specific agenda of influencing behavior?

You're playing some kind of game here. Later.

The issue is this.

DU allows us to post polls. Including opinion polls.

There are various reasons people wish to post polls in which others are asked for an opinion:

1. They truly want to know what the majority of DU'ers really think (intellectual curiosity).

2. They want to know how many DU'ers agree with them, so they can feel validated if the majority agree with them.

3. They want to try to force the majority of DU'ers to agree with them by phrasing the poll as such that they will feel compelled to agree.

4. They don't really want to know what people think, they just want to stimulate people to think about their opinions and attitudes.

5. Just for fun and laughs.

6. They like cheese. (Hey, I had to come up with a stupid answer, it's DU poll tradition.)

Anyway. My feeling is this.

1. If they post a poll to find out what the majority of DU'ers really think, they should keep in mind that any DU poll is by definition self-selective, therefore unscientific. They will only learn from it what the majority of people who cared to respond think.

2. If they want to know how many DU'ers agree with them, why? Do you need to have the majority opinion amongst a self-selected group of people in order to feel validated? If so, I feel sad for you.

3. If you want to try to force the majority of DU'ers to agree with you, then I feel sad for you too. Good luck with that. Also, if you phrase the questions so as to make people feel compelled to agree, you are running a Fox News-style "push poll" and you should know that.

4. If you don't really want to know what people think, but just want to stimulate people to think about their opinions and attitudes, fine. That's a valid reason for posting a poll, and phrasing the questions so that they will feel compelled to agree is legitimate. But admit that that's what you are doing.

5. Great! Funny! Thanks! :rofl:

6. I like cheese, too.

Creationists rarely complain that unpersuasive arguments are presented in support of evolution. On the contrary, they complain that people are influenced by those arguments to abandon creationism.

:evilgrin: