Follow Rapoport’s Rules

Criticize Constructively: Follow Rapoport’s Rules with Daniel C. Dennett, Philosopher, Writer and Cognitive Scientist, and Author, From Bacteria to Bach and Back

Rapoport said if you’re contesting somebody’s position, you’re responding critically to a presentation at a conference for writing a review of an article or a book here’s what you do: Step one, you attempt to re-articulate, summarize, the target’s position so clearly that the target says, “Gee I wish I thought of putting it that way. Thank you.” You can’t always get that but you can try. That’s the goal. Second, anything that the target has taught you that you didn’t believe before, anything that you’ve changed your mind about, mention that. Third, anything that you and target agree on against a lot of the other people in the area in the field, make sure you mention that. We agree about this and this and this, unlike some others we could mention.

Only after you’ve done those three things do you say a word of criticism. And if you do that, one, and very importantly, target has a high opinion of you and of what you’re saying because you’ve proved that you understand target’s position so well you can put it as well or better than they can. Two, you’re smart enough to have learned something from target. Three, you’re smart enough to agree with target about X Y and Z, unlike some others. Boy, whatever you say next must be pretty interesting. And this is a way of breaking through the sort of machine gun fire nitpicking, which is all too common.