How we change what others think, feel, believe and do

Criteria Reasoning

Disciplines > Argument > Types of Reasoning > Criteria Reasoning

Description | Example | Discussion | See also

Description

Start by defining the criteria by which the outcome of a decision will be judged, and then identify the best decision, given these constraints.

In a logical argument, you will spend much time establishing the criteria as valid first. In a less logical situation, you may assume the criteria are correct, minimizing the time spent on any discussion about them.

Criteria which appeal to common values are likely to be easily accepted.

Example

Say this	Not this
I guess your wife will want something good-looking. How about this one?	This is the right one for you!
How will we know when we have succeeded? Let's discuss this first...	Success means maximum profits.
Our manifesto says we must help those who cannot help themselves. Now, can this person help himself?	We should not help this man.

Discussion

Establishing criteria provides legitimacy for any future argument, as the criteria form the rules by which right and wrong are judged, even when criteria are assumed to be true without discussion.

The easier criteria are to accept as reasonable, the less likely it will be that people will question them. Using common values helps this.

A problem with criteria is highlighted by the question 'by what criteria do you select the criteria'. This argument could be given again, should criteria for selecting criteria be agreed. In this way, criteria reasoning, though useful in many ways, may be build on sand.