| Username |
Post |
| ashu |
Posted
on 30-Oct-00 12:54 PM
Hi everyone,
Having long done my share of arguments/debates/discussions/kura-kani
on the Nepal-related Internet boards, at Harvard's classrooms and dining halls, in Kathmandu's newspapers and at Martin Chautari (and having thus made quite a few enemies
but many, many more friends than I can count), I have always felt a need for a book on logic and on "how to argue/debate" -- written in clear, simple and straightforward Nepali bhasa.
Such a book, I always felt, could be of help
to high school students in Nepal and also to journalists, law students and and to many other Nepali citizens who want to learn/master/understand the craft of making well-evidenced arguments/debates in public.
My premise for needing such a book was/is: Democracy means more debates in public. More debates in public mean more ideas come to the fore in public. More ideas coming to the fore in public mean more arguments in public.
But not all arguments in public are valid or
are justifiable or convincing. So, as a citizen who wants to participate in public debates, how do you decide which arguments
are valid and which are not?
A chance discussion with Mabi Singh and Pushkar Pokharel last February in Boston got me thinking that maybe I could and should write such a "how to argue/debate and use logic" book in Nepali bhasa. Encouraged, I started to work on the book, writing stuff in Nepali bu hand -- in bits and pieces, in
fits and starts, stealing time from other works.
I am now happy to report that the first
draft of the proposed book is now COMPLETE.
It now needs to be commented upon, privately criticized, revised and maybe even re-written
in some sections and so on so that when it finally comes out in the market next year, the book will be much, much better.
No writer writes alone. Hence, my heartelt gratitude to many readers over the years who have taken the trouble to read my various postings, and have been quick with both public and private criticisms and praise.
oohi
ashu
|
| Biswo |
Posted
on 30-Oct-00 01:28 PM
Hi Ashu:
Good job,man.When you have time, post some parts of
your book in this website.
Biswo.
|
| Trailokya Aryal |
Posted
on 30-Oct-00 02:16 PM
>Hi Ashu:
>
> Good job,man.When you have time, post some
>parts of
>your book in this website.
>
> Biswo
I agree with Biswoji on this one. Good job, Ashu dai. I am sure that you will be sending me and Biswoji copies of that book when it gets published in the near future.
Good luck on your project.
Trailokya
|
| ashu |
Posted
on 30-Oct-00 09:11 PM
Dear Biswo and Trailokya,
Many, many thanks for your kind words.
Both of you will receive a copy each
when it comes out.
oohi
ashu
|
| Diwas |
Posted
on 30-Oct-00 09:22 PM
Keeping differences aside, I think the book is a great idea. My first text book in Logic class was Kelley's "The Art of Reasoning".
Good Job....
-diwas
>Hi everyone,
>......
>>postings, and have been quick with both
>public and private criticisms and praise.
> ,,,.........
>oohi
>ashu
|
| hari |
Posted
on 30-Oct-00 09:41 PM
This is a great thing to hear from you.Since you have
been contributing so much of your thoughtful and eye-opening thoughts on public arenas for so long.It is expected from you to do such scholarly work.
Most of all,you have been one of the great advocate of the "Freedom of Speech" and "transparency" in public discussions.From which as a result attracted great argumentors like Biswoji,Trylokyaji,Mabiji and more to come...
Another note : I greatly admire your
one of the long posting with loaded "commercial Breaks"on Safa Tempo which was I guess
your response to Biswoji or Murariji ,but I am not sure and I don't have time to go back and check,which was bullied by both of them.
I think its a very creative way of holding readers to read such a long respose.Since most of us who don't have reading habits.I don't know where derived the idea from it is a very facinacting introduction of writing style like Picasso's Cubist and Van Gogh's Stroks movements.
More later...
Return of Hari
|
| hhh |
Posted
on 31-Oct-00 11:03 AM
So, as a citizen who wants to participate in public debates, how do you decide which arguments
are valid and which are not?
You just have to find one counterexample to the argument being made. If you can do this than you have an invalid argument.
|
| ashu |
Posted
on 31-Oct-00 12:00 PM
Dear Diwas and Hari,
Thanks for your encouraging words.
I appreciate them.
Time-permitting, please continue to post your
thoughts and ideas on other topics too.
oohi
ashu
|
| Trailokya Aryal |
Posted
on 31-Oct-00 01:48 PM
>Most of all,you have been one of the great
>advocate of the "Freedom of Speech" and "
>transparency" in public discussions.From
>which as a result attracted great
>argumentors like Biswoji,Trylokyaji,Mabiji
>and more to come...
Namaste Hariji,
I absolutely agree. It was ashu who repeatedly asked me to post messages using my REAL name and assured me that I wouldn't be laughed upon or looked down for my views. I had a zillion names with which I used to post messages in Nepal related boards/discussion groups but the satisfaction you get from being REAL is something beyond explanation. I feel good and I feel great.
Trailokya
|
