Where is Argument Wayne Brockriede

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Where is Argument? Wayne Brockriede
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Five Principle Biases

• A humanistic point of view
• Argument is a concept used by people
• Argument is an open concept
• Argument is a human process
• Argument is an elastic concept but not completely
  so.

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A humanistic point of view

• Denies an interest in logical systems absent
  humans
• Meanings (and argument) are in people, not in
  words
• Arguments are found in the vicinity of people

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A concept used by people

• Not a thing to be looked for, but a concept
  people use
• Argument is a perspective people take
• Not as neat as describing the necessary and
  sufficient conditions

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Argument is an open concept

• Arguersandpeople change their locations
• Argument may be found in many different locations

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Argument is potentially everywhere

• Look beyond traditional locations
• Music, film, poetry
• Human relationships

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Argument is an elastic concept, but not
completely so

• All communication is not usefully called an
  argument
• Argument is a process whereby people reason
  their way from one set of problematic ideas to
  the choice of another.

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Six Characteristics of Argument

• An inferential leap
• A perceived rationale
• A choice among competing claims
• A regulation of uncertainty
• A willingness to risk confrontation
• A frame of reference shared optimally

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1. An inferential leap from existing beliefs to
the adoption of a new belief or to the
reinforcement of another.

• Operates in the midrange between syllogism and
  blind assertion

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2. A perceived rationale to support that leap.

• Operates in the midrange
• Claims made for the sake of argument
• Claims made with the hope of being accepted
• Claims logically entailed

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3. A choice among competing claims

• Operates in the midrange
• Logical arguments which entail no choice
• Quibbles which offer no choice
• So many choices that argument is deterred

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4. A regulation of uncertainty

• Operates in the midrange
• Too much certainty reduces the need for argument
• Too much uncertainty deters argument

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5. A willingness to risk confrontation with peers

• Operates in the midrange
• Too little risk reduces the need for argument
• Too much risk deters argument

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6. A frame of reference shared optimally

• Operates in the midrange
• Sharing too much reduces the need for argument
• Sharing too little reduces the ability to argue
  productively