Argumentation

This book treats argumentation as a means of resolving a difference of opinion. Differences of opinion constantly emerge in contacts with other people not only in everyone's private life, but also at work and in all areas of public life. The authors begin their treatment of argumentation theory at the same juncture where argumentation also starts in practice: the difference of opinion that occasions the evolvement of the argumentation. This book teaches step by step the insights that are required to perform the different tasks that have to be carried out well to analyse, evaluate, and present argumentation adequately and to be able to reflect on the problems one may encounter. Each chapter begins with a short summary of the essentials and ends with a number of exercises that students can use to master the material. The book also includes references to other theoretical literature and a detailed index is preceded by a list of the discussion rules, the fallacies, and a series of general references.