The Logical Argument

This will be one of a series of posts that I've always wanted to write but I needed to wait until I was no longer an academic administrator.

Logic is critical to proving theorems but it's the wrong way to argue for resources.

When I was such an administrator, faculty would come and argue, generally for more salary, more office space, more hiring in their specialty or less teaching. Since I had many mathematicians and computer scientists, I'd often get these logical arguments. These arguments were typically fitted to generate the conclusion. How? By choosing the right assumptions, or putting in certain facts, or a certain interpretation of the facts. I've never seen a faculty member give a logical argument on why they should be paid less.

I could point out the faulty assumptions or sometime faculty logic but you can never convince someone they are wrong, especially if it means they won't get what they want. So I generally just agree with them, try to to help out if I can but generally say limited resources tie my hands, which usually is true. 

What's the right way to argue? Show why helping you would strengthen the department/college/university, how you don't need that many resources and how you can generate more resources (say through grants). Arguing to grow the pie always wins over arguing for a bigger slice. I was also more receptive for requests that helped students rather than the faculty themselves.