The Marketing of Everything: manipulation is not persuasion.

This guy is bang-on. Arguments aren't defined by enemies yelling personal insults and inflammatory language at each other, but by opposite points of view debating the validity of ideas and the  potential mistakes in the reasoning involved. The attack upon the debater as a person is the lowest form of argument with no intelligence required. You can literally fling mud. We're living in a world of manipulation not persuasion. Popularity doesn't make things right. The base instincts are the easiest buttons to push.

The following comes from CBC radio's The Current.

Persuasion has replaced reasoned argument, says philosopher

Philosopher James Garvey points to a classic Gruen Transfer, where storefronts are designed to make a buyer slowdown and spend more. (James Garvey)

Listen 24:44

Read story transcript
Philosopher James Garvey is worried about the effect manipulation is having on democracy and happiness. He thinks the influence of reason as tool for persuasion in debate is being overshadowed by marketing tricks that leave voters unaware of genuine intentions or ideas.
Consider the Canadian campaign trail last fall: Conservative Leader Stephen Harper relies on his favourite prop, the ding of a cash register,  while then Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau invites reporters to watch him in the boxing ring - yet refuses to answer their questions.
These political stunts were designed to persuade Canadians to vote for their party, but clearly have no tie to healthy debate or platform ideas.

'When we lose that ability to argue, we lose democracy itself.' - James Garvey

Philosopher James Garvey argues the use of shallow marketing strategies among our country's leaders are only growing more prevalent, informing all life decisions, from how we shop,  to whether a country goes to war.

• James Garvey, author of  The Persuaders: The Hidden Industry That Wants To Change Your Mind. 

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This segment was produced by The Current's Karin Marley