Argumentation Theory

Argumentation theory is a multidisciplinary field drawing from communication theory, linguistics, philosophy, discourse analysis, and social psychology. Argumentation becomes concerned with investigating the nature and structure of argument as it occurs in real, natural situations. Given the frequency with which arguments occur in daily life, it is a vital branch of communication studies.

The area of argumentation theory has, on the one hand, been around since the time of Aristotle, but on the other, it has been around as a demarcated discipline since the 1970s. It was at that time that researchers began investigating interactive argument as it occurs in daily life, or as it is sometimes called, marketplace argument. Very broadly speaking, two approaches can be identified, though there is often overlap. The first approach is the dialectic view and its roots are in formal and informal logic. The dialectic approach emphasizes correct argument that follows rules and procedures intended to guide arguers to the truth or most acceptable conclusion. The research focus tends to be on arguments as objects or artifacts, often referred to as products, and determining their strength and interrelations. The second approach, the rhetorical approach, rests primarily on the ideas of audience and situation. The beliefs, values, and commonly accepted truths, known as loci, form the basis for continuing argumentation and the acceptance of conclusions. On this view, the importance of individual arguments is outweighed by the entire message including word choice, tonality, facial expression, and body movement.