Visual argumentation in an Al Gore keynote presentation on climate change

The use of digital presentation tools such as PowerPoint is ubiquitous; however we still do not know much about the persuasiveness of these programs. Examining the use of visual analogy and visual chronology, in particular, this paper explores the use of visual argumentation in a Keynote presentation by Al Gore. It illustrates how images function as an integrated part of Gores reasoning

Towards Computer Support for Pragma-Dialectical Argumentation Analysis

Computer tools are increasingly used to support the analysis of argumentative texts. Generic support for argumentation analysis is helpful, but catering to the requirements of specific theoretical approaches has additional advantages. Although the pragma-dialectical method of analyzing argumentative texts is widely used, no dedicated computational support tools exist. An outline is presented for the development of such tools, that starts with the formal approximation of the pragma-dialectical ideal model of a critical discussion

Shifting focus from the universal audience to the common good

Humanist concerns to empower human beings and to promote justice inspired the modern argumentation movement. Turning to audience adherence and acceptability of inferential links raised a spectre of pernicious relativism that undermines concerns for justice. Invoking Perelman’s universal audi-ence as a remedy only begs the question with ‘whose universal audience?’ and frustrates fulfilling the jus-tice commitment. Turning discourse toward the common good better addresses concerns of justice and social justice

The fallacy of composition and meta-argumentation

Although the fallacy of composition is little studied and trivially illustrated, some view it as ubiquitous and paramount. Furthermore, although definitions regard the concept as unproblematic, it contains three distinct elements, often confused. And although some scholars apparently claim that fallacies are figments of a critic’s imagination, they are really proposing to study fallacies in the context of meta-argumentation. Guided by these ideas, I discuss the important historical example of Michels’s iron law of oligarchy

The virtues of argumentation from an amoral analyst\u27s perspective

Many French-speaking approaches to argumentation are deeply rooted in a linguistic background. Hence, they naturally tend to adopt a descriptive stance on argumentation. This is the reason why the issue of the virtues of argumentation – and, specifically, the question of what makes an argument virtuous – is not central to them. The argumentative norms issue nevertheless cannot be discarded, as it obviously is crucial to arguers themselves: the latter often behave as if they were invested with some kind of argumentative policing duty when involved in dissensual exchanges. We propose to account for a number of researches developing a descriptive approach to such an ordinary argumentative police: we claim that the virtues of argumentation may be an issue even for an amoral analyst. We will connect this issue with linguistic remarks on the lexicon of refutation in English and in French

Economic Reasoning and Fallacy of Composition: Pursuing a Woods-Walton Thesis

Woods and Walton deserve credit for including (in all editions of their textbook Argument) a discussion of “economic reasoning” and its susceptibility to the “fallacy of composition.” Unfortunately, they did not sufficiently pursue the topic, and argumentation scholars have apparently ignored their pioneering effort. Yet, obviously, economic argumentation is extremely important, and economists constantly harp on this fallacy. This paper calls attention to this problem, elaborating my own approach, which is empirical, historical, and meta-argumentational

Argumentation and the Force of Reasons

Argumentation involves offering and/or exchanging reasons—either reasons for adopting various attitudes towards specific propositional contents or else reasons for acting in various ways. This paper develops the idea that the force of reasons is through and through a normative force because what good reasons accomplish is precisely to make one entitled to do what they are reasons for. The paper attempts to shed light on what it is to have a reason, how the entitlement arising from reasons differs from other species of entitlement and how the norms by which such entitlement is assessed obtain their status as norms

A Pragmatic Paradox Inherent in Expert Reports Addressed to Lay Citizens

This paper addresses a problem inherent in reporting as a mode of communication between experts and lay citizens. The potential utility of such reports is obvious, but we commonly encounter critically debilitating frustration as experts, trained to address and to be accountable to other experts, attempt to report to citizens engaged in public decision making with proper regard for their own autonomy. We may move toward some resolution to these frustrations if we better understand the obligations inherent in the ordinary communicative act of reporting, which by its nature involves a delegation of responsibility

Towards an authentic argumentation literacy test

A central goal of education is to improve argumentation literacy. How do we know how well this goal is achieved? Can we measure argumentation literacy? The present study is a preliminary step towards measuring the efficacy of education with regards to argumentation literacy. Tests currently in use to determine critical thinking skills are often similar to IQ-tests in that they predominantly measure logical and mathematical abilities. Thus, they may not measure the various other skills required in understanding authentic argumentation. To identify the elements of argumentation literacy, this exploratory study begins by surveying introductory textbooks within argumentation theory, critical thinking, and rhetoric. Eight main abilities have been identified. Then, the study outlines an Argumentation Literacy Test that would comprise these abilities suggested by the literature. Finally, the study presents results from a pilot of a version of such a test and discusses needs for further development