Classifying the Patterns of Natural Arguments.

Macagno, F. & Walton, D. (2015). Classifying the patterns of natural arguments. Philosophy & Rhetoric, 48(1), 26-53.

28 Pages Posted: 14 Mar 2015

See all articles by Fabrizio Macagno

Fabrizio Macagno

Universidade Nova de Lisboa

Douglas Walton

University of Windsor

Date Written: March 12, 2015

Abstract

The representation and classification of the structure of natural arguments has been one of the most important aspects of Aristotelian and medieval dialectical and rhetorical theories. This traditional approach is represented nowadays in models of argumentation schemes. The purpose of this article is to show how arguments are characterized by a complex combination of two levels of abstraction, namely, semantic relations and types of reasoning, and to provide an effective and comprehensive classification system for this matrix of semantic and quasilogical connections. To this purpose, we propose a dichotomous criterion of classification, transcending both levels of abstraction and representing not what an argument is but how it is understood and interpreted. The schemes are grouped according to an end-means criterion, which is strictly bound to the ontological structure of the conclusion and the premises. On this view, a scheme can be selected according to the intended or reconstructed purpose of an argument and the possible strategies that can be used to achieve it.

Keywords: Argumentation schemes, pragmatics, interpretation, reasoning, semantic relations

Suggested Citation

Macagno, Fabrizio and Walton, Douglas, Classifying the Patterns of Natural Arguments. (March 12, 2015). Macagno, F. & Walton, D. (2015). Classifying the patterns of natural arguments. Philosophy & Rhetoric, 48(1), 26-53., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2577387 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2577387

Fabrizio Macagno (Contact Author)

Universidade Nova de Lisboa ( email )

Av. Berna 26 I&D Building, office 4.02
Lisbon, 1069-061
Portugal

HOME PAGE: http://fabriziomacagno.altervista.org/

Douglas Walton

University of Windsor ( email )

401 Sunset Avenue
Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4
Canada

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