Where this idea comes from
Answering the other side fairly
The philosopher Daniel Dennett, in his 2013 book Intuition Pumps, set out four rules for criticising someone’s view, which he named after the game theorist Anatol Rapoport.
One thing to hold: Four steps, in order: say their view so well they wish they had put it that way; list where you agree; say what you learned from them; only then say what you disagree with.
Why it matters: People listen to an answer that has shown it understood them. Rebuilding their strongest point first is the steelman move this door practises.
What we don’t know: Dennett credits Rapoport with the idea; the four-step wording is Dennett’s own.