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Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities
The Notion Of On-Balance Premise Reconsidered, Robert Xie
The Notion Of On-Balance Premise Reconsidered, Robert Xie
OSSA Conference Archive
The notion of on-balance premise has played a crucial role in understanding the structure of conduction. It is a widely accepted view that in any third-pattern conductive argument there is always an implicit on-balance premise which represents a judgment that the positive reasons for the conclusion have outweighed the counter-considerations against it. This paper aims to provide a critical examination of the notion, and to reveal its inadequacy as a theoretical tool. First, it argues that the notion of on-balance premise has rested upon a metaphor of outweighing that is too simplistic to characterize the weighing and balancing between reasons …
The Incommensurability Of Values Problem, Julder Gómez
The Incommensurability Of Values Problem, Julder Gómez
OSSA Conference Archive
How to make a reasonable decision in a pluralistic community when two of their highest values (CP and CN) are incommensurable, one of them (CP) is used as a premise in favor of a proposal (C), and the other one (CN) is used as a premise against the very same proposal? After considering previous answers to similar questions, I suggest establishing new hierarchies of values from the point of view of their conditions of possibility.
Arguing Conductively Or Arguing Strategically?, Yun Xie
Arguing Conductively Or Arguing Strategically?, Yun Xie
OSSA Conference Archive
The topic of conductive argument has attracted much attention in recent argumentation studies, but most of the existing discussions are centered on a logical or epistemological perspective. This paper is to argue that conductive arguments could also be understood from a rhetorical perspective, and to offer a Pragma-dialectical point of view regarding to the likelihood and importance of conductive arguments. In particular, it is contended that the mentioning of counter-considerations in a conductive argument is mainly for some rhetorical concerns in order to achieve better persuasiveness in audience. On that basis, it is argued that conductive arguments can be theorized …
What's In A Good Argument About Evaluative Claims? Argumentation In Accountability Practices, Dima Mohammed
What's In A Good Argument About Evaluative Claims? Argumentation In Accountability Practices, Dima Mohammed
OSSA Conference Archive
What counts as a good defence of the conduct of a political agent? I formulate an answer combining insights from argumentation scholarship on the different types of standpoints and the schemes suitable to defend them with insights from philosophical literature (fact vs. value, theoretical vs. practical reasoning … etc). The goal is to make a proposal that is best suitable for examining the type of evaluative claims that is typically discussed in accountability practices.
How To Formalize Informal Logic, Douglas Walton, Thomas F. Gordon
How To Formalize Informal Logic, Douglas Walton, Thomas F. Gordon
OSSA Conference Archive
This paper presents a formalization of informal logic using the Carneades Argumentation System, a formal, computational model of argument that consists of a formal model of argument graphs and audiences. Conflicts between pro and con arguments are resolved using proof standards, such as preponderance of the evidence. Carneades also formalizes argumentation schemes. Schemes can be used to check whether a given argument instantiates the types of argument deemed normatively appropriate for the type of dialogue.
A Critical Examination And Development Of Wellman’S Theory Of Conductive Argument, J Blair, Dale Hample
A Critical Examination And Development Of Wellman’S Theory Of Conductive Argument, J Blair, Dale Hample
OSSA Conference Archive
The paper aims to provide an analysis and critique of Carl Wellman’s account of conduction presented in Challenge and Response and Morals and Ethics. It considers several issues, including: reason-ing vs. argument, the definition vs. the three patterns of conduction, pro and con arguments as dialogues, their assessment, the concept of validity, applications beyond moral arguments, argument type vs. as crite-rion of evaluation.
Convergent Causal Arguments In Conversation, Dale Hample, Katarzyna Budzynska
Convergent Causal Arguments In Conversation, Dale Hample, Katarzyna Budzynska
OSSA Conference Archive
In theory, flawed arguments are not individually sufficient to justify a conclusion, but several may converge to do so. This is an empirical study of how arguers respond to a series of imperfect causal arguments during a serious conversation. People became less critical of the flawed arguments as more of the arguments appeared. The study gives empirical evidence that ordinary arguers permit sufficiency to accumulate during an extended discussion.
Wide Reflective Equilibrium And Conductive Argument, Steven Patterson, Charles V. Blatz
Wide Reflective Equilibrium And Conductive Argument, Steven Patterson, Charles V. Blatz
OSSA Conference Archive
In this paper I compare and contrast Rawls’s notion of reflective equilibrium with Wellman‘s notion of conductive argument. In the course of so doing I will address two key questions: (1) Are conduc-tive argument and reflective equilibrium best understood as modes of reasoning or types of argument? and (2) What relationship (logical, pragmatic, etc.), if any, is there between them?