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Notes -
Hold on, how do you even know which side (if any) Winegard himself takes on this position? I found the two characters in the dialogue to be immaculate representations of their respective positions. I believe advocates of either side would enthusiastically approve of their side's character in this dialogue. The ideological Turing tests pass with flying colors here.
Really? I would be absolutely shocked to hear the writer sides more with Cleanthes than Philo.
Cleanthes allows too many major assertions by Philo to go unquestioned, and those that are pushed back against are only done after conceding ground.
That being said, I do genuinely believe the author is trying to fairly portray his more moderate opposition and does a better job than most at doing so.
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