After today's Socratic seminar, I was thinking about some topics that warranted further discussion. One was regarding the nature of an opinion. Since defining words and phrases was so popular during the discussion, it seems odd in hindsight that nobody broached the topic. The most memorable example of not having a right to your opinion was stopping a friend from crossing the road who was "of the opinion" that there were no cars coming. That seems like less of an opinion and more of a perspective. Should an opinion be purely subjective? But then again, what is really subjective?
For example, imagine a discussion between friends about whether chocolate or vanilla is the superior ice cream flavor. Assuming the ultimate goal of ice cream is to provide enjoyment, it's impossible to come to an accurate conclusion. To one friend, chocolate is the best flavor, and to him that is an undeniable truth. In a side by side comparison of chocolate vs vanilla of equal caliber, chocolate provides him more enjoyment. Nobody can know this but him, so nobody can deny it. I don't think this necessarily gives him a right to the opinion (in the sense that he is entitled to it), but it certainly doesn't excuse the other friend imposing his vanilla-favoring opinion on others.
I'm sure there's some faults in my points, but it would have at least made for interesting discussion.
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