A counterargument is a reasoning that opposes a judgment that precedes it.
A counterargument is an argument used in response to a previous argument. This is reasoning that is contrary to a previous judgment.
It is often said that a counterargument, also accepted as a counterargument , is a reply or a refutation. The previous argument is opposed by a new argument that allows a contrary reason to be put forward.
It is important to note that an argument does not have a single counterargument. Typically, there are multiple counterarguments that, in turn, may be compatible or contradictory to each other.
The flat earther discussion
Take the case of the discussions between members of the flat earth movement (who maintain that the Earth is flat) and members of the scientific community (who claim that the planet is spherical).
Flat Earthers argue that the Earth is a flat surface floating in space , with the Moon and Sun moving around it. Science, on the other hand, presents as a counterargument the evidence of the images captured by satellites and the foundations of the law of gravity to reject that belief.
Global warming and counterargument
Let's now see what happens with the controversy over global warming . Among those who reject the existence of this trend, some present as an argument that other periods have been recorded in which the Earth warmed, so it would be a natural phenomenon. On the other hand, it is postulated as a counterargument that these stages are linked to particular reasons such as agitations in the Earth's orbit or solar influence, issues incomparable to what is produced by the greenhouse gases that human beings, with their daily activities, emit. to the atmosphere.
In both cases, the topics to be discussed or debated are of a natural and scientific nature, so it is expected that at some point in the discussion a conclusion that is impossible to refute can be reached. Let us take once again the belief that our planet is flat and not spherical: the material evidence is unquestionable, which is why the counterargument leads us to close the discussion without the possibility of reopening it.
Evidence presented through a counterargument can be accepted or rejected.
Acceptance of evidence
Of course, it is up to each of the parties to decide whether to accept the evidence against them and their failure or to continue arguing endlessly out of simple stubbornness. In this particular case, precisely that happens: the people who support this theory deny the veracity of all the evidence that opposes it, alleging that it was fabricated by different organizations and governments to deceive the world's population.
With respect to global warming, on the other hand, the situation is slightly different. Although the scientists who claim that this is a real problem and can be tested may be right, given that the history of our planet is so extensive, we must respect the position of those who allege different reasons for temperature alterations. As there are many parameters to take into account, the counterargument is more complex than in the previous case.
Independent existence of the counterargument
If we look beyond the discussions themselves, we can say that the counterargument exists independently of the person who uses it, as a piece that allows us to achieve balance in any intellectual field. We must remember before continuing that its function is not always to completely oppose the argument first expressed, but also to take it in a different direction or add information that gives rise to a new interpretation .
This means that presenting a counterargument is not as simple as saying “no”; It is not a capricious answer but a resource that often serves to verify the veracity of what is stated. It may be thanks to this contrast of ideas that the most correct one comes to light.