Open risk assessment Lecture 5: Argumentation

1. Mikko Pohjola KTL, Finland Open risk assessment Lecture 5: Argumentation

2. Lecture contents • Pragma-dialectical argumentation theory • Argumentation as knowledge creation • Formal argumentation in ORA

3. Pragma-dialectics • Systematic theory of argumentation • (Van Eemeren and Grootendorst, U of Amsterdam) • "Argumentation is a verbal, social, and rational activity aimed at convincing a reasonable critic of the acceptability of a standpoint by putting forward a constellation of oneor more propositions to justify this standpoint." (Van Eemeren, Grootendorst, & Snoeck Henkemans, 2002, p. xii)

4. Pragma-dialectics • Basic building blocks of argumentation: • Protagonist and antagonist • Standpoint, argument and premise

5. Pragma-dialectics • Ideal model for a critical discussion • Confrontation • Opening • Argumentation • Concluding

6. Pragma-dialectics • Structure of argumentation: • Single argumentation • Multiple argumentation • Coordinative argumentation • Subordinative argumentation

7. Pragma-dialectics • Rules and fallacies: • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/pragma-dialectics • General guidelines: • First of all, the parties have to have the will to try to achieve the goal of the discourse • The parties should also follow the communication principle, i.e. their communication should match as well as possible to the purpose of their communication • The communication should be clear, sincere, efficient and to the point. • The parties should not use any dubious means in advancing their position in the discourse, or in other words violate the ten rules for a critical discussion.

8. Argumentation as knowledge creation • Falsification of a hypothesis (Popper) • A variable is a hypothesis about a certain part of reality • Argumentation is a means to try to falsify the hypothesis • A falsified hypothesis can be modified or a new hypothesis created according to the argumentation

9. Argumentation as knowledge creation • Collaborative learning-work • creating shared meaning, knowledge in a team • Identify--individuals can agree that a problem exists but yet disagree on how to define or represent it • Define--how the problem is defined influences the types of solutions the group will generate, it involves assumptions and constraints • Exploration--the search for solutions that the group can agree will respond to the need as defined • Act--involves testing out hypothesis about the solutions to see what will work and what will not meet the defined need • Look--involves observation of the effects

10. Formal argumentation in ORA • Dealing with disputes • Computer-aided formalization of discussion • Direct formal argumentation by participants • Moderator aided argumentation from informal comments -> argumentation analysis • Arguments are targeted to a specific point within information structure • Examples!