an observation

While writing the response to Shaviro, I’m struck by the extreme clarity of the sentences as I write them. This is meant as praise not of myself, but of Shaviro… If you are able to respond very clearly to objections by others, it’s almost always a sign that the criticisms are striking on important points of divergence between oneself and the critic.

By contrast, it will usually be found that confusing, shouting interchanges are a sign that bedrock is not being struck in the dispute, and that it’s merely a question of a struggle for self-assertion.