The Philosophy of Argument and Audience Reception

This book approaches the topic of argumentation from the perspective of audiences, rather than the perspective of arguers or arguments.

Christopher W. Tindale (Author)

9781107498440, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 15 March 2018

256 pages
23 x 15.3 x 1.3 cm, 0.4 kg

Recent work in argumentation theory has emphasized the nature of arguers and arguments along with various theoretical perspectives. Less attention has been given to the third feature of any argumentative situation - the audience. This book fills that gap by studying audience reception to argumentation and the problems that come to light as a result of this shift in focus. Christopher W. Tindale advances the tacit theories of several earlier thinkers by addressing the central problems connected with audience considerations in argumentation, problems that earlier philosophical theories overlook or inadequately accommodate. The main tools employed in exploring the central issues are drawn from contemporary philosophical research on meaning, testimony, emotion and agency. These are then combined with some of the major insights of recent rhetorical work in argumentation to advance our understanding of audiences and suggest avenues for further research.

1. The role of audience in a theory of argumentation
2. Argumentation and its issues
3. Aristotle and the natures of audiences
4. Perelman's audiences: a meeting of minds
5. Habermas and the ideal audience
6. Meaning and reasons
7. Evidence and reasons: the place of testimony
8. Emotion and reasons
9. Agency and reasons
10. Making meaning present
11. Audiences and addressees: the experience of reception
12. Historical arguments and elective audiences.

Subject Areas: Law [L], Political science & theory [JPA], Philosophy: logic [HPL], Analytical philosophy & Logical Positivism [HPCF5], History of Western philosophy [HPC], Philosophy [HP], Communication studies [GTC], Sociolinguistics [CFB]