Sidewhether

Sidewhether is a term used in rhetoric and decision analysis to describe the cognitive process and discourse of evaluating alternative sides of an issue in order to determine a stance or to present a balanced comparison. As a rhetorical device, it foregrounds the act of weighing positions rather than asserting a single viewpoint.

Etymology and scope: The term is a recent neologism formed from side and whether. It has appeared in scholarly and practical discussions about argumentation, decision making, and policy analysis to name the practice of comparing opposing positions side by side.

Conceptual framework: Sidewhether involves (1) identifying the issue, (2) enumerating the relevant positions or options, (3) specifying evaluation criteria (implications, feasibility, costs, values), (4) weighing trade-offs, and (5) communicating a conclusion or framing the issue for further discussion.

Applications: It is used in debates, policy briefings, journalism, and classroom settings to structure analysis or reporting in a way that clarifies advantages and drawbacks without prematurely endorsing a side.

Criticism and limitations: Critics warn that sidewhether can invite false balance if not grounded in evidence, may privilege procedural evaluation over substantive ethical considerations, and could lead to decision paralysis if overemphasized.

See also: pros and cons, framing, argumentation theory, decision analysis.