The Art of Argumentation

I am listening to a captivating lesson on argumentation and I am taking notes in order to ensure I understand every aspect of this lesson.

I figured that while I am taking notes I might as well make them available to others!

I will update this thread as I listen more to the lessons and add to my notes. Feel free to discuss as you like.

 

I can't say for sure but I assume it will cover all of the above, there are 25 lectures.

 

I do believe this lecture focuses on inductive reasoning, as deductive reasoning requires proof that is already certain. The argument focused in this is on matters that are not certain, deductive reasoning is not possible in the topics covered on this.

What is Argumentation
The argument has generally received a negative connotation in today's English speaking society. Those who seek to reason, to question why things are a certain way, seem to meet with fallacy insisting they adhere to the rules of authority through either political, religious, or some other means of hierarchy. Here are some common portrayals of the negative connotations of the argument:

• A parent repeatedly telling their children not to argue.
• A competition in which one only seeks victory through conquering others.
• The argument is seen as destructive when performed by someone lower in a hierarchy.
• The argument generally leads to a conclusion that is unpleasant or quarrelsome.
• The result of an argument is observed as bitter or destructive of self-worth of a participant.

Argumentation is not such, it is simply structured reasoning.
Reason Giving - Claims are made to seek ascent in the beliefs of others in matters that are not certain.
Reasons - Justifications we give for a claim.
Claim - A claim is something we seek to justify that is not absolute and can include the following:

• Value Judgements
• Future Predictions
• Something too vast or too big to understand fully.

So argumentation is the practice of justifying claims.

Alternatives to Reason Giving - Accept claims based on whim, caprice, or authority. Typically this gives a high probability of chance, happenstance, or coersion.

To Whom is Reasoning Effective? The audience.
What is an audience? A reader, listener, or large public. Oneself can also be considered the audience.
What determines the success of an argument? The ascent of beliefs of the audience.
What is the ascent of the audience? Adherence to a claim based on reasons given. Reasons, grounds, justifications, and the links between those are accepted.

Argumentation is natural - We practice argumentation all the time. It is natural in our everyday social environments.

Why seek to learn argumentation? We seek to learn it to become more effective and to understand the underlying principles.

A thoughtful question: Is argumentation dead? Do we only seek to communicate with others who already accept our claims? What happens if this is the case?

What separates a productive argument from an unproductive one? Understanding the principles of argumentation will help determine the productivity. To understand why one challenges a widely held claim or asks questions to better understand a topic helps to be more accepting of these inquiries.

The argument is both a product (noun) and a process (verb). We make arguments and we have arguments.

 

Is informal vs formal logic equivalent to inductive vs deductive reasoning?

I would say the deductive is useful in generating claims, but the inferences based off those claims are in support of conclusions or results that are not known with certainty which would indicate inductive reasoning.

Edit: Come to think of it, the introductory lecture did cover inductive vs deductive reasoning, the uses and traits of each and the application of the use. I should generate some notes on that and include those.

 

Ok, so I am sure my core understanding of formal versus informal logic will expand as this continues. To me it has always seemed natural to apply logic to everyday conversations and ideas.

Then again, to me people aren't illogical. We are all logical, we have inferences, we do what we believe is best for any particular circumstance. The only reason we seem to think others are illogical is because we don't share common frames of reference. People can often be ignorant to certain data due to preconceived ideas or biases.

Your empirical subset of conclusions will never match mine completely. What you have learned through repitition over time will never match mine completely. These sets of conclusions and repititions help to set up biases which influence us whether we realize it or not. Perhaps I give too much emphasis to the rationality of all species but to me there is a logical explanation for how our minds work, we just haven't found that all-encompassing framework yet.

Sorry, just kinda went off on a tangent there.

 

http://www.teach12.com/ttcx/CourseDescLong2.aspx?cid=4294

I would argue that those who make these common mistakes do not understand the core principles of argumentation which, in turn, results in an unproductive/ineffective process of argument.

As we will find from the principles in this lecture, argumentation involves both parties taking the risk of influence. It also requires both parties to hold opposing views and to have the desire to reach a common understanding. If both parties do not match this criteria, then by the definition of this lecture, those parties are not arguing. From a personal standpoint I would define that as a conflict rather than an argument.

If the parties agree to disagree, one party sees the topic as trivial, or one party is unwilling to take the risk of being influenced, then an argument is truly not taking place.

 

The process is still logical. The arguments used are not necessarily sound or cogent due to weak inferences or untrue premises, but it is still a logical process.

One person may touch fire and find that it hurts and is unpleasant. Therefore that person could conclude that fire should be avoided at all costs.

Touching fire causes pain.
Pain should be avoided
Therefore fire should always be avoided.

However, another can create a different conclusion based on further data.

Touching fire causes pain.
Pain should be avoided.
Fire can be used to cook meat.
Cooked meat is tasty.
Therefore fire should sometimes be avoided.

Self reflection and argumentation with oneself can create more robust solutions. However, argumentation can also create unsound or invalid conclusions, that is a risk we take and it is another reason that understanding the principles of argumentation is so important. At one point the second person may have had the same conclusion as the first, but through the questioning of his conclusion he was able to reach a broader, more robust conclusion.

"Is fire really always bad? Are there any practical uses for fire? I found this data that suggests otherwise, is that true?"

Of course, religion and common societal beliefs can sometimes shut down self-reflection and consistent self-quesitoning which could be seen to limit the ability to advance to new inferences.

As a balance I also find that some people make the inference that all spiritual and religious pursuits are bad. I do not believe that to be true. Any good proponent of religion will tell you that you must find your own way. You must create your own inferences and self-reflections as to why religion or spirituality is good. Well, truly it is always your own inferences that you accept unless you are somehow coerced into belief.

 

I hope I am not infringing on copyrights by posting notes I have taken from this lecture.

I wouldn't think I am. Anyone?

 

The building blocks of the Argument.





The argument contains subsets of each of these three categories:

• Rhetoric
• Logic
• Dialectic

Rhetoric - How knowledge is conveyed.

Aristotle defined rhetoric as "The faculty or skill of discovering the available means of persuasion in any given case."

Argumentation deals with rhetoric in the understanding of how people are influenced by reasons given. Rhetoric focuses on the audience, understand their dispositions, their role of choices, and that the influence of others is non-coercive.

Logic - Encompasses all structures of reasoning.

Dialectic - The process of discovering and testing knowledge through questions and answers. The socratic method is a form of dialectic in which questions are asked in order to guide the listener into discovering knowledge for themselves. The courtroom also focuses heavily on dialectic methods through cross examination.

Ethical considerations - Attempting to influence others can lead to ethical conflicts due to intellectual force attempting to limit a party's freedom of choice. However, proper argumentation does not seek to influence others against their will. Argumentation seeks the free ascent of the audience and does not force it.


Adding Practicality




Think about the recent bans we had here. People attempted to argue that they had the right to force influence upon others. The moderators urged that this was not their right, which is true. Forceful use of influence is not argumentation, it is coercion. In that particular case it was through force of a claim of intellectual authority. Think about the rhetoric, or lack of rhetoric, used by some who were banned.

• How much of the audience's current disposition was taken into account?
• How can you attempt to influence an audience, besides through means of force, who does not wish to be influenced?

That is not to say that their intent was not wholesome, I would not have urged the reconsideration of their bans if I had thought their true intent was to only cause harm. I believe they may have been ignorant to certain structures that correlate to positive social interactions. Then again, I could be wrong.

 

Assumptions in Argumentation

1. Arguments take place with the audience in mind.
   • The influence of the audience is the goal. Note that the acceptance of claims by an audience does not equate to a sound or cogent argument.
2. Arguments take place under conditions of uncertainty
   • Certainty can be subjective, or audience dependent. Controversy is used to convey opinions of conclusions that are not certain.
   • Controversy - Genuine differences in opinion that mater to the parties involved and a resolution is sought.
     • Explicit - Controversy is clearly defined.
     • Implicit - Controversies are implied and/or ambiguous.
     • Unmixed - Only one party maintains a position in the controversy. Other party challenges the position.
     • Mixed - Both parties maintain a position on the controversy.
     • Singular - Only one claim is presented
     • Multiple - Multiple claims are presented.
3. Arguments involve justifications of claims.
   • Claim is justified based on reasons that are acceptable to a critical listener
   • Both sides participate as critical listeners.
   • Adherence of critical listener is a substitute for certainty that is unobtainable.
   • Justification is subjective and always subject to change. The justifications can vary in degrees from plausible to highly probable.
4. Argumentation is fundamentally a cooperative enterprise
   • Both parties share the common goal of reaching the best conclusion given the circumstances.
   • Adversarial elements are a means of achieving a common goal.
     • Reduce likelihood of omittance of data or jumping to conclusions.
     • Increases confidence in resolution.
   • Cooperate by being critical listeners.
   • All share some level of agreement.
   • Disagreement always founded on some level of 'bedrock' agreement. Unproductive arguments sometimes do not share these 'bedrock' agreements (differences in definition of terminology).
   • Share respect for other party, audience. Audience shares willingness to listen and the risk of being convinced.
5. Argumentation entails risk.
   • Risk of being shown to be wrong
   • Risk of having to alter system of beliefs through having to consider different perspectives or elimination/modification of current beliefs.
   • All parties assume risk.
   • Those who believe they are right without doubt are not actively engaging in argument.

 

Well, your agenda is that you want to influence people to believe your claims.

Some of your claims may be implicit, and that is why knowledge of argumentation is vital. Increasing an understanding in the principles of argumentation makes it easier to spot these implicit or ambiguous claims that might 'hide' from view.

Rhetoric really doesn't have any need for hiding an agenda, it is about linking with the audience and seeking to influence them. That can be exploited but that doesn't mean rhetoric is based on it. Only if you are attempting to influence the audience of something they wouldn't normally accept would you need to hide your agenda.

I believe that coercion through hidden agendas would be more apparent to anyone that understands argumentation theory.

 

OMG I just lost what I wrote...

I will write it later. Good article!