Is one who “argues” much ever open to being led to a conclusion other than that which one insists on proposing? It is doubtful that, in such “argument,” some set of propositions is continuously being presented while logically leading, formally or informally, to a declarative conclusion. More likely are one’s questions an attempt to lead the other to one’s own predetermined answers.
How, then, can one ever learn something new? Resistance to persuasion is often rooted in distrustful fear rather than determinative love of logic. Maturity puts logic in service of love, which lets trust and truth temper one another. The immature fool fears learning something new, even if it be true.
The logic of friendship is such that Truth is acted out in Love, letting trust turn away doubt that may otherwise drive a wedge between one and another. When truth reveals some offensive hurt or betrayal of trust, friends find healing in forgiveness. Confrontation need not be a hindrance to friendship; in fact, it may be essential – face-to-face relationship confronts oneself with another, at which moment each one's humanity can be revealed.
Friendship means not turning away from the one who confronts us. To turn away is to make the other one's enemy. To remain with another person is profound.
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