I’m teaching through my book “The Declaration of Independence and God” (Cambridge, 2015). There is some good material in there! I was reminded of this quote from Thomas Reid. Are we obligated to discuss and argue with everyone about anything? Reid says no. You’ll remember my dialogue posted here under necessary conditions for thought with someone who didn’t know if “a” is “a’. That is among the first principles necessary to reason together. And no wise man would reason with such a person:
“Thus, if any man were found of so strange a turn as not to believe his own eyes; to put no trust in his senses, nor have the least regard to their testimony; would any man think it worth while to reason gravely with such a person, and, by argument, to convince him of his error? Surely no wise man would. For before men can reason together, they must agree in first principles; and it is impossible to reason with a man who has no principles in common with you.”