steelman
noun
a strong or effective opposition to an argument, rhetorical position, etc.
What does steelman mean?
Steelman (sometimes steel-man or steel man) refers to a strong or effective opposition (such as an argument or adversary) set up in order to test or challenge one’s own rhetorical position. Steelman represents the opposite of straw man, which refers to a weak or imaginary opposition set up only to be easily refuted. A steelman case/argument is the strongest possible case or argument one can imagine their opponent making.
Examples of steelman
By setting up a steelman, which is the strongest possible argument you can express for the opposing side, and then attacking THAT, you strengthen your own position and make it more obvious to your opponent and observers that your side is the strongest position.
—@consideranon, Reddit, 19 July 2020
Can someone actually give me the steelman argument for why stablecoins shouldn’t pay yield? Honestly asking.
—… George W. Bush’s decision to invade Iraq was a missed opportunity to utilize the steelman framework. Vice President Cheney, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, and other advisers were convinced that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. While there were dissenting voices, they were quiet whispers. No one was tasked with building a steelman case against the invasion.
—Thinking about AI often induces panic or euphoria. Because I’m temperamentally wary, I sympathize with the worriers. However, using a “steel man” strategy, I have sought out techno-optimist voices.
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Where does steelman come from?
Steelman was coined in the second decade of this century in answer to straw man, which first appeared in print in the mid-1800s but has become increasingly popular in the parlance of social media debate.
How is steelman used?
Like straw man, steelman is usually used attributively, that is, before another noun—especially argument or case. It can also be used as a verb for the action of determining the strongest possible version of one’s opposition.
This is my reminder to “steelman” the other person’s position. This is the opposite of attacking the strawman. If you respond to what the other person is saying by finding fault with the weakest version of what they might mean, you’ll only breed resentment.
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