Basic structure of
argumentation
Lukáš Lehotský
How does argumentation differ from other
speech acts?
Basic components of persuasion
Context Substance Delivery
Context
Let's meet at 8
Zdroj: http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-33099289
Substance
Why do we need model?
"I can make an egg bounce"
Bouncy egg
• Ground
• Liquid objects with thin membrane cover are able to bounce off the hard surface
• Warrant
• Cured egg is a liquid object with thin membrane cover
• Conclusion
• Cured egg is able to bounce off hard surface
• Backing
• If an egg is cured in vinegar for 24 hours, calcium carbonate in the egg shell reacts with
vinegar and dissolves. Outer shell of an egg is decimated into flexible membrane, which
allows egg to bounce off a hard surface
Simple argumentation model
Claim
Explanation Evidence
Chinese food
• Claim
• Chinese cooking is healthy food to eat
• Explanation
• Food containing vegetables is healthy food to eat
• Chinese cooking uses lots of fresh vegetables in many dishes
• Evidence
• Fresh vegetables provide vitamins and other nutrients while having little fat
• Data from The World Obesity Foundation show that the percentage of
population suffering from obesity is 3% in China while in EU countries such as
Slovakia it is 18%.
Common use of argumentation
Claim Evidence
Delivery
Structure
Rhetoric
More academic approach
Various models of argumentation
Classical Rogerian
Toulmin
Classical model
Toulmin model
Toulmin model - advanced
Rogerian model
Types of reasoning
Inductive
Deductive
Analogical
Narrative
Causal
Rebuttal
Proposition of solution
Common reasoning fallacies
We can see how good Biden
administration is doing, because
economic performance of the USA
improved after he became president.
Post hoc reasoning/
correlation is not causation
Two out of three patients who were
given green tea before bedtime
reported sleeping more soundly.
Therefore, green tea may be used to
treat insomnia.
Hasty generalization/
Unrepresentative sample
Professor Berger has published
numerous articles in immunology.
She must be an expert in medicine.
Does not follow/
Non sequitur
A: We should decriminalize
marijuana, as criminalization ruins
lives of young people.
B: The legalization of cannabis will
turn people into drug addicts.
Straw man
Once all gun-owners have registered
their firearms, the government will
know exactly from whom to
confiscate them and we loose all our
freedoms.
Slippery slope
We either get our ground troops
involved in Syria or the Islamic
State is going to take it all
False dilemma