A Systematic Theory of Argumentation
The pragma-dialectical approach

This is a major contribution to the study of argumentation.

Frans H. van Eemeren (Author), Rob Grootendorst (Author)

9780521537728, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 17 November 2003

226 pages, 2 b/w illus.
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.3 cm, 0.34 kg

'… a major event in argumentation theory scholarship.' Michael C. Leff, Northwestern University

In this book two of the leading figures in argumentation theory present a view of argumentation as a means of resolving differences of opinion by testing the acceptability of the disputed positions. Their model of a 'critical discussion' serves as a theoretical tool for analysing, evaluating and producing argumentative discourse. They develop a method for the reconstruction of argumentative discourse that takes into account all aspects that are relevant to a critical assessment. They also propose a practical code of behaviour for discussants who want to resolve their differences in a reasonable way. This is a major contribution to the study of argumentation and will be of particular value to professionals and graduate students in speech communication, informal logic, rhetoric, critical thinking, linguistics, and philosophy.

1. Introduction
2. The realm of argumentation studies
3. A model of a critical discussion
4. Relevance
5. Analysis as reconstruction
6. Rules for a critical discussion
7. Fallacies
8. A code of conduct for reasonable discussants.

Subject Areas: Philosophy: logic [HPL], Semantics, discourse analysis, etc [CFG]