These couple chapters focused on argument and as quoted in the text, "…the art of challenging what is appealing." This is an intriguing concept because it is so unarguably true. When people try to challenge the way others think, it is an art form in itself. To have the determination to debate to the end is truly what makes an argument a true argument. A person who believes in their position whole-heartedly will find attacks to their concept as personal attacks to them as a person. They see this argument as a part of their being. As an example, the author used religion (what's new?) to highlight the importance of a persons argument. "If you have ever argued with a religious devotee, for example, you will have noticed that self-esteem and pride are involved in the dispute and that you are asking him to give up something more than a point in argument."It means more to this person than to say that they won an argument. They want to change peoples minds to agree with their opposition.
Argument is important because, how else are we supposed to share rash ideals with one another? Yes, they may become heated as both parties defend themselves to the moon and back, but in the end both sides will have gained insight to another way of thinking. This isn't to say that they will change their minds and conform to their opponent, but they will modify their argument with the new information the other person has shared. For intellectual growth I agree with Hitchens when he says, "argument was valuable, indeed essential."
In arguments a person may be proven wrong. They may have heard something irrefutable. In this case, the ultimate victory has been achieved in the art of argument. As Hitchens explains,"…the prime responsibility lay in being able to tell people what they did not wish to hear." No one wants to hear that they are wrong, ever. So in an argument this is basically the objective; to show the other person that they were wrong all along and that you were right.
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