PFR... "..we MUST conduct such critical analysis and challenging, I described, in a calm reasonable rational manner.."

*grin*.. and when those you critique don't view your manner as either rational OR reasonable? That's the usual reaction and why I tend to avoid it.
My education was from the late 50s to the late 60s and into 1971. I've no doubt the "counter culture and radical student protests were a little different in the UK.. and very different from conservative Kansas where I went to school.... although my school was an oasis of fairly free, open ideas in a very conservative town & state.
What I gleaned was how to evaluate different philosophical views from many angles, with an emphasis on seeing possible flaws in their construction. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallacy...especially the part about informal fallacies. There are many sites which try to explain them and a pretty long list when you look at the sub-categories... but there are some very standard ones. (see the bottom of that page for links)
   (I actually have a shelf of books devoted to various forms of linguistic and rational error...some humorous, some serious). It is not something to try to memorize, but rather a collection of problematic ways that people 'rationalize' ideas they already accept by instinct or belief system. There's no way to know the RIGHT answer to anything by using them as a guide, but there are many ways to recognize a flawed way to defend a claim or viewpoint! We all have seen someone use a bad argument to support even the right answer.. and when the same argument form is used to defend wrong answers... well, you have Donald Trump.. and others.

   To me, the issue is whether one approach is practical under certain conditions... here at Mudcat I prefer to avoid direct confrontation and head-butting and character assassination even when they are acting like @$&*&%#@... I will critique answers, but not people. IF I think someone's attitude, belief or reasoning is beyond help, I will state MY position and end the discussion.

Yes... this is way too much for a single post... but umm.. this is the short form! After 23 years at Mudcat, I have a number of examples... *sigh*

Thanks for YOUR input...Now, let's see if I can find a way to answer Steve.