Jude Magnotti ‘26
EE Co-Managing Editor
As human beings, we need a variety of things in order to keep our strength up and ultimately survive. Food, water, shelter, all of which valuably contribute to the wellbeing of each of us. With that being said, not everything humans crave is beneficial to them. Cigarettes, alcoholism, brain rot, your standard counterproductive behaviors that humans still continue to indulge in despite being well aware of their detriments. However, there is one behavior so detrimental yet so equally addicting that countries have waged wars, wives have divorced husbands, and best friends have turned to enemies because of it: Argumentation.
An argument is generally defined as a, “series of sentences, statements, or propositions, some of which are called premises and one is the conclusion. The purpose of an argument is to give reasons for one’s conclusion via justification, explanation, and/or persuasion”.
If you have ever been in a heated argument with a friend, family member, or colleague, you know just how quickly an argument can escalate from something as simple as a spilled cup of coffee to a physical altercation. This behavior is not just restricted to adults, however. From birth, we are trained to argue, to fight, to challenge opposing viewpoints. While this is what ultimately allows us to make change and stand up for what is right, it is also a double edged sword that impales both sides of a dispute with the inescapable spear of conflict.
Conflict creates problems, conflict destroys relationships, and conflict has been the main reason for every single atrocity in human history. Yet, despite all of its flaws, conflict somehow also manages to be the great equalizer of all things good and evil in this world. An adjudicator capable of balancing the scales so that one side never gains a true advantage over the other. It is when humans embrace either side of the spectrum too strongly, that true destruction and misery ensues and corrupts the balance of life.
This holds true for all areas in which an argument may be involved. A relationship, a war, an online subreddit form, each of these events requires a firm hand, steady judgment, and a heart full of empathy. Unfortunately, humans are not perfect and as such most individuals, no matter how set they may be on avoiding conflict, will always end up back in its scaly grasp.
When you are arguing with someone, you are never just arguing to prove a point. You are arguing to prove something bigger, whether that be about yourself, the other person, or some one else entirely. You are not just trying to reinforce or prove a point, you are mounting an all out defense on your personal pride and self-esteem.
When your little brother accuses you of lying about taking the last cookie, you are not just trying to prove the truth to them, you are trying to defend your dignity and identity as an honest person to both them as well as yourself.
People’s tendency to argue is overwhelmingly based on their circumstances and self-esteem. If a person is born into a household of endless conflict and dispute, they are more likely to embrace that fire in their own personal life. On the other hand, if a person is born into a household of avoidance and neglect, they are more likely to run away from conflict and avoid it whenever possible.
As always, a balance of the two is required to succeed romantically, professionally, and socially. A person’s own opinion of themselves is also highly indicative of their propensity for argument but is often lost in a paradox. Someone with a low self esteem might not want to argue due to their lack of confidence. Nevertheless, the same person might have an equal motivation TO argue in order to defend what little of their dignity they have left.
The same goes for those with a higher opinion of themselves. These people might yearn to enforce their superiority upon others to further reinforce their confidence. However, many people with high self-esteem also feel good enough about themselves that they don’t have to argue to prove that point.
So, how is it possible to prevent humans from conflicting and end the cycle of conflict and rage that has plagued our species for so long? Well, it’s not. In the end, the point is that regardless of circumstance, background, or self-esteem, the human being will always have a burning inner desire to argue.
Even in just writing this article, I am arguing a point I believe to be true in order to reinforce the knowledge of the world I have. The real question is, will humans use their innate ability to quarrel in order to forge a new path forward for the betterment of mankind? Or will they be dragged back down into the bottomless depths of ego and pride as civilization helplessly crumbles in the unrelenting face of human nature…