The principle of charity involves both rhetorical technique and philosophical arguments; it’s about listening to an argument that is being given and rather than being distracted by the particular style or language choice that might otherwise lead a listener to be biased towards the content, instead focusing on what would be the strongest argument proposed.

We can see this all the time when a young person who might not have as much control over their language tries to discuss something that they disagree with. They might use limited terms, or be emotional, perhaps resort to slang words or abbreviate, rather than pose their question in a structured fashion.

By looking for the strongest and most persuasive form of the argument, you’re also able to see how you can avoid doing strawman fallacies when rebutting. It also enables you to see if there’s really an argument — or just an opinion being aired. By looking at the strongest points being made by your opponent, you also test your own reasoning and its strength in response.

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