to steel-man (steel man)
verb

- to represent an opponent’s argument in its strongest form before attempting to rebutt it oneself

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PHRASE ORIGIN

Steel-manning is a modern neologism created as the deliberate opposite of "straw-manning”. The term plays on the contrast between materials: where a straw man is weak and easily knocked down (like a scarecrow or training dummy made of straw), a steel man is strong, robust, and difficult to defeat.

The term was coined by philosopher and economist Eli Dourado to promote more constructive and respectful dialogue in online discussions. The earliest documented usage appears to be from around 2012 in rationalist online communities.

Steel-manning is rooted in the philosophical "principle of charity," which encourages understanding and interpreting others' arguments in the best possible light. However, the rationalist community wanted a more vivid, memorable term that would explicitly contrast with the well-known "straw man fallacy”.

Unlike "straw man," which has origins dating back to at least the mid-20th century (first appearing in textbooks around 1956), "steel-manning" is distinctly 21st-century terminology, emerging from internet culture's need for better argumentative practices.

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AGREE BEFORE DISAGREEING

The practice of steel-manning goes far beyond “Yes, but…” statements.

By steel-manning, we not only demonstrate that we understand the other person’s point-of-view, but we try to strengthen it with better evidence or argumentation. At no point do we say “That’s wrong, or stupid, or irrelevant.”

This seemingly paradoxical technique demonstrates respect for our counterpart and allows time to consider that we may be wrong ourselves,…or even to discover a completely different, and maybe more effective perspective!

Steel-manning involves 4-steps:

(1) Re-expressing the counterpart position so clearly, vividly, and fairly that they say, “Yes, that’s exactly what I mean!” or “Thanks, I couldn’t have said it better myself!” or something similar.

(2) Listing any points of agreement or similarity.

(3) Mentioning anything new or just learned from the counterpart that was surprising or enriching.

(4) Only then should one lay out perceived weaknesses in the counterpart’s position.

We find that steel-manning is a great tool for reconciling differences.

Helga & Paul Smith

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SYNONYMS

acknowledge the best case, argue in good faith, balance the scales, be fair-minded, build a fair version, building up before breaking down, charitable reading, charitably interpreting, construct the best case, debate honourably, deal honestly, do justice to, empathize with the other side, enter the other’s shoes, fortifying before fighting, frame it charitably, generously construing (framing, interpreting), give the benefit of the doubt (the strongest reading), grant their premise, granting the strongest interpretation, look through their lens, make the best case for, playing devil’s advocate in reverse, present the best version, put in the best light, reinforce before rebutting, represent at full strength (fairly, generously), see their logic (through their eyes), sharpen the counterview, show the opponent at their best, STEEL-MANNING, strengthen the other side, understand before judging, upgrade the argument**

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, say something like:

""Have you ever tried STEEL-MANNING in challenging situations?

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P L E A S E   S U P P O R T   O W A D