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The first and most thoroughly developed audience-oriented argumentation text, Argumentation and Critical Decision Making presents argumentation as a cooperative, communicative process.
This text examines the general principles of argument in a rigorous yet readable manner and then applies those principles to different spheres of life - law, science, religion, business, government, and politics - to explore how conventions of argument change when applied to these real-world arenas. Focusing on the dynamics of decision making and using real-life examples to illustrate principles, Argumentation and Critical Decision Making aims to help readers develop practical argumentation skills within the world of their daily lives.
List of contents
Table of Contents
Part One Principles
- Defining Argumentation
- Elements of Argumentation
- Elements of Critical Decision Making
- Conclusion
- Projects/Exercises
- Appraising Argumentation
- Argumentation and Being Reasonable
- The Bases of Reason in Argumentation
- Starting Points for Argumentation
- Conclusion
- Projects/Exercises
- Making Sense of Argumentation
- Some Ways of Making Sense
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Conclusion
- Projects/Exercises
- The Nature of Arguments
- The Model of an Argument
- Reasoning Processes
- Definitions as Argument
- The Analysis of Arguments
- Conclusion
- Projects/Exercises
- Analysis in Argumentation
- Critical Analysis to Find a Proposition
- Critical Analysis of a Proposition
- Analysis of Claims
- Conclusion
- Projects/Exercises
- Case Building
- Preliminary Steps in Case Building
- Developing a Convincing Vision
- Communication to Specific Decision Makers
- Conclusion
- Projects/Exercises
Part Two Tools
- Support: Evidence
- Forms of Evidence
- General Principles for the Use of Evidence
- Sphere Dependence of Evidence
- Conclusion
- Projects/Exercises
- Support: Values
- Characteristics of Values
- Values Appear in Systems
- Values Define Ethics
- General Principles for the Use of Values
- Sphere Dependence of Values
- Conclusion
- Projects/Exercises
- Support: Credibility
- Characteristics of Credibility
- Forms of Credibility
- General Principles for the Use of Credibility
- Sphere Dependence of Credibility
- Conclusion
- Projects/Exercises
- Refutation
- The Process of Refutation
- Approaching Refutation
- Setting a Framework for Refutation
- Selecting a Posture for Refutation
- Communicating Refutation
- Conclusion
- Projects/Exercises
- Refutation by Fallacy Claims
- Views of Fallacy
- Social Guides to Fallacy Claims
- Using Fallacy Claims in Refutation
- Conclusion
- Projects/Exercises
Part Three Applications
- Argumentation in Law
- Narratives in Legal Argumentation
- Arguments on the Law
- Commonplaces in Legal Argumentation
- Conclusion
- Projects/Exercises
- Argumentation in Science
- What is Science?
- Scientific Values
- The Tradition of Argumentation in Science
- Scientific Use of Argument Types
- Scientific Use of Evidence
- Scientific Method as Argument
- Conclusion
- Project s/Exercises
- Argumentation in Religion
- Major Questions in Religious Argumentation
- Evidence in Religious Argumentation
- Preferred Argument Forms
- Conclusion
- Projects/Exercises
- Argumentation in Business
- Starting Points for Business Argumentation
- Forms of Support in Business Argumentation
- Conclusion
- Projects/Exercises
- Argumentation in Government and Politics
- The Nature of Political Argumentation
- Argumentation in Government and Politics
- Argumentation in Legislative Action
- Argumentation in Political Campaigns
- The Special Role of Debates
- Refutation in the Political Campaign
Conclusion
Projects/Exercises
References
Name Index
Subject Index
Summary
The first and most thoroughly developed audience-oriented argumentation text has been updated to its 8th edition: Argumentation and Critical Decision Making presents argumentation as a cooperative, communicative process. This text examines the general principles of argument in a rigorous yet readable manner and then applies those principles to different spheres of life — law, science, religion, business, government, and politics — to explore how conventions of argument change when applied to these real-world arenas. Focusing on the dynamics of decision making and using real-life examples to illustrate principles, Argumentation and Critical Decision Making aims to help readers develop practical argumentation skills within the world of their daily lives.
