The only part of an argument that really matters is what we think of the people arguing. X claims a, Y claims b. They make arguments to support their… - Kim Stanley Robinson

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The only part of an argument that really matters is what we think of the people arguing. X claims a, Y claims b. They make arguments to support their claims, with any number of points. But when their listeners remember the discussion, what matters is simply that X believes a and Y believes b. People then form their judgment on what they think of X and Y.