But nobody would conflate interesting writing with premise, evidence, argument and conclusion".
He has charged once more into the breach, as one of the authors of Shakespeare Beyond Doubt: Evidence, Argument, Controversy, which came in for this impressive drubbing by rosbarber (well worth reading in full).
As rational agents, they can revise their views in response to evidence, argument and reflection (Raz 1998).
In any case, this "no evidence" argument can be weakened by noting that we should not necessarily expect to see signs of complex mentality at the simplest level or perhaps any sign at all.
It will also, perhaps, say something about whether there can be evidence (arguments) in favor of having a belief that p or bringing about the belief that p, in addition to evidence in favor of p itself (see Reisner 2008).
When we find people seeming to disagree about some matter, that is often because there is a genuine conflict of evidence — arguments and considerations on either side of the issue, none of which can be easily dismissed.
In law, given limited time, evidence, arguments, testimonies and the right to speedy trials, judges and juries can live with doubt.
He dodges the nature of evidence-based argument, the problematic status of evidence, the power of empathy and the structured character of narratives.
Instead, pull on real-world evidence, logical arguments, emotional arguments, and whatever else you can.
It is healthy in a democracy for elected politicians to make decisions based on evidence and argument – and if some of that evidence and argument comes from vested interests that is not, in itself, a bad thing.
