Summary
The word opinion has more than one meaning because there are different types of opinions. There are opinions that are judgments that state what is good or bad, what should be and what should not be. An example of a judgment is the opinion that America should leave Iraq. Advice is a type of opinion, such as telling a friend not to gamble with the rent money. Opinions can also be generalizations, such as pit bulls are dangerous. Personal preferences are opinions too and do not require any supporting facts. One may simply prefer blondes to brunettes without offering any justification. Not all opinions carry equal weight, depending on how well they are supported. To say that the United States military should pull out of Iraq requires a weighing of facts, such as the level of Iraqi forces, and opinions, such as what would the consequences be. Public opinion polls are used to determine public opinion, but can also be used to manipulate opinion. Questions may presuppose and assume certain opinions. An opinion may be a thesis for an argument, called a conclusion. Such an opinion must be supported by facts, reasoning, other claims, and evidence.
Exercises
1. Expert opinion calculates the risk involved in bridging the gap between the known and unknown for a given situation.
True
2. Giving advice is not a way of giving an opinion.
False
3. The results of public opinion polls are equivalent to votes in elections.
False
4. Opinions in the form of judgments state what is right and wrong, bad and good.
True
5. Some opinions are based on generalizations such as stereotypes, as in the statement “All Chinese look alike.”
True
6. Responsible opinions are based on careful examination of the evidence.
True
7. Opinions are the same as facts.
False
8. Gossip is opinion sharing without any requirement for substantiation.
False
9. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion because all opinions carry equal value.
False
10. Prevailing sentiment refers to popular opinion that changes with the times.
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