If you poke further you'll see that it's not an answer at all. Be ready for this. If he insists, ask him to play rationalist's taboo with "nature." If he won't, then drop the conversation! Argument is about resolving confusion and learning new things. Those who refuse to take steps to those goals are not worth your emotional energy, no matter how close you might be to them on an emotional level.

I upvoted your comment, but the quote seems like very bad advice; not everything has to serve the goal of seeking Truth, even if it's somehow "about resolving confusion and learning new things."

Of course, it would be even more productive if we could persuade everyone we talk to to optimize their arguments for truth-seeking, not persuasiveness, but simply refusing to speak with them if they don't is simply rude (and kind of phygish.)