ARGUMENTATIVE STRATEGIES
2014/15
PREREQUISITE: Basic understanding of logical principles.
TEACHER: Giovani Damele
Fabrizio Macagno
COURSE UNIT AIMS. (Purpose of the course using broad, general terms)
a) To analyze arguments, highlighting the type of argument scheme used to support a conclusion
b) To assess the probative weight of an argument
c) To individuate fallacies and counter weak or deceptive arguments
Transferable Skills: assessing arguments; argumentation and critical thinking skills.
COURSE UNIT CONTENT. (Main topics covered in the course)
1. Introduction. Basic notions of argumentation theory: (Dialogues. The structure of an argument.
Argument and explanation. Rebutting and questioning arguments).
2. The logic of arguments. (Deductive reasoning. Inductive reasoning. Abductive reasoning).
3. Formal fallacies. (Syllogistic Errors, Affirming the consequent, Causal fallacies, Non Sequitur).
4. Presumptive reasoning. (The structure of an enthymeme. The system of maxims and
argumentation schemes) .
5. Argumentation schemes. (Arguments from knowledge and authority. Argument from cause.
Argument from sign).
6. Arguments from definition. (Classification. The structure of definition. Types of definition and
inferences.
7. Redefinitions and Persuasive Definitions (Emotive Meaning and Persuasive definitions.
Applications to political discourse.
8. Semantic Strategies: analogy and opposition. (Analogy and classification. The structure of
analogy. Oppositions and alternatives) .
9. Emotive argument schemes and fallacies. (Appeal to pity. Argument from threat. Fallacies Ad
hominem; Ad baculum; Ad misericordiam).
10.Ethos and reasoning. (Commitments in a dialogue. Argument from inconsistency) .
11.Fallacies of relevance (Straw man. Begging the question)
12.Persuasion dialogue. (characteristics of a persuasion dialogue. Other types of dialogue).
13.Practical reasoning and decision-making dialogue (Argument from consequences. Practical
reasoning. Irrelevance in dialogue).
TEACHING AND LEARNING METHODS.
Explanation of the theoretical grounds. Discussion in the classroom and reply to doubts. Exercises
focused on the class contents solved in the classroom. Individual exercises corrected together in
the classroom. Explanation of the mistakes and doubts.
WEEKLY HOURS
4
ASSESSMENT
1. Written test consisting in two parts: Theoretical questions (open ended); Exercises on the
subject matters of the first part of the course.
2. Final exam consisting in a written analysis of a political discourse or a commercial campaign.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Douglas Walton (2006). Fundamentals of Critical Argumentation. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press.
Further readings
1.Eemeren, F.H. van, & Grootendorst, R. (2004). A systematic theory of argumentation: The
pragma-dialectical
approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
2.Macagno F, Walton D. (2009). Argument from Analogy in Law, the Classical Tradition, and Recent
Theories.
Philosophy and Rhetoric 42 (2): 154-182