Question

Consider this argument: "the kidnappers have taken eight people hostage and are holding them at a farmhouse just outside town. if the swat team assaults the farmhouse, the hostages could be killed. but if we give into the kidnappers' demands for ransom and safe passage out of the country, we'll only be encouraging more kidnappings of innocent people. what can we do?" that argument is an example of ________.

Answer 1

The kidnappers have taken and holding eight people hostage at a farmhouse just outside town. If the Swat team assaults the farmhouse, hostages will be killed. If they give into the kidnappers' demands for ransom, hostages will be safe but the tactic will encourage more kidnappings of innocent people.The argument is an example of compromise.

Compromise is a  negotiation process in which both parties (Swat team and kidnappers)  give up something in order to get something else which they want more. It occurs  in win-lose situations – like in the example that there are hostages taken in. Each of the parties makes concessions in order to reach an agreement that is agreeable to both.