Overview

This book is an accessible reference guide to the key concepts associated with argumentation theory, criticism, and pedagogy. Providing an encyclopedic‑style synthesis, the book defines and describes 175 essential concepts of argumentation, and provides discussion of the meaning, application, and impact, as well as offering suggestions for further reading. Readers are introduced to foundational reasoning methods—deductive, inductive, and abductive—as well as key argumentative models such as the Toulmin Model and Pragma‑Dialectics. The text delves into the identification and analysis of fallacies, the evaluation of evidence, and the crucial roles of context, audience adaptation, and argumentative style. It explores the ethical dimensions of argument, the impact of cognitive bias, and the influence of cultural and discourse communities. The first of its kind and a key entry point to understanding the fundamental principles of the field, this guidebook is ideal for undergraduate and graduate courses in argumentation, debate, rhetoric, and communication studies as well as other related disciplines. It will also be of interest to the general reader looking to improve their analytical and decision‑making abilities.

Full Product Details

Author:   Edward Schiappa
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
Weight:   0.620kg
ISBN:  

9781032730776

ISBN 10:   1032730773
Pages:   234
Publication Date:   27 November 2025
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Not yet available  
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Table of Contents

List of Figures Acknowledgements Preface Abduction (Abductive Reasoning) Affirming a Disjunct (argument by dilemma) Analogical reasoning Antecedent Argument Argumentative pattern Argumentative style Argumentum ad baculum (appeal to force) Argumentum ad hominem (fallacy) Argumentum ad hominem (in philosophy) Argumentum ad misericordium (appeal to pity) Argumentum ad populum (bandwagon fallacy) Argumentum ad rem (argument to the matter) Argument diagramming Argument evaluation Argument from analogy Argument from authority Argument from ignorance Argument metaphors Argument reconstruction Argument strength Argumentation and advocacy Argumentation ethics Argumentative grammar Argumentativity Artificial Intelligence and argument Audience adaptation Axiom Backing Biconditionals Bivalent logic Burden of proof Burden of rejoinder Causal argument Circular reasoning Claim Cogency Cognitive biases Cognitive research on argumentation Commitment Common knowledge (Sensus Communis) Communicative Action Theory Computational Models of Argument Conclusion Conjunction Consensus Consequent Constructive argumentation Constructive dilemma Context Contradiction Controversy Cooperative argument Counterfactual Counterplan Critical Discourse Analysis Critical thinking Cultural norms of argumentation Debate Deductive reasoning Defeasible reasoning Definitions and definitional argument Deliberative rhetoric Destructive dilemma Dialectic Dialogical argumentation Discourse community Discovery and invention Disjunctive reasoning Doublespeak Elaboration Likelihood Model Embodiment Emotive arguments Enactment Enthymeme Eristic Ethos Evidence Evidence-based reasoning Explanatory arguments Factual claims Fallacies Fallacy of relative privation False cause (post hoc fallacy) Feminine style Feminist argument theory Fields of argument Formal logic Framing analysis Identity argument Incommensurability Inductive reasoning Inference Informal logic Information seeking Inquiry Interpersonal argument Justification Lemma Linguistic approaches to argument studies Logical operators Logical Positivism Logos Meta-argumentation Metacognition Misinformation Modal logic Modus ponens and modus tollens Multimodal argument Narrative argument Natural argument Negotiation Non sequitor Normative reasoning Obligation Game Parody and satire Pathos Personal sphere of argument Persuasion Policy claims Pragma-Dialectics Pragmatics Predicate logic Premise Presumption Proof Proposition Public sphere of argument Qualifier Quantifier Quantitative reasoning Racist argument Radical argumentativism Rationality Reason Rebuttal Reconstructive analysis Red herring Reductio ad absurdum Relevance Rhetoric Rhetorical analysis Scientific rhetoric Selfhood and argument Semantics Sign reasoning Significance Slippery slope Socratic method Solvency Soundness Standpoint analysis Stasis Stock Issues Strategic design Strategic maneuvering Straw person argument Style Syllogistic reasoning Tautology Technical sphere of argument Theorem Topoi Toulmin Model Transposition Tu quoque fallacy Unexpressed premise Universal audience Universal generalization Validity, formal Validity, informal Value Based Argumentation Frameworks Value claims Visual argumentation Warrant Bibliography Index

Reviews

“Argumentation is the root of philosophy and communication. But what exactly is it? The conceptual pillars of argument analysis, interpretation, and evaluation are explained in this book with stunning clarity and accessibility. It is a reference book, an introductory manual, a comprehensive guide for understanding how we put our reasoning in words.” Fabrizio Macagno, University of Lisbon, Portugal “With concise entries covering an expansive array of concepts, this resource guide is essential for any who study or practice argumentation. It offers clear definitions, illustrative examples, and further readings. The book is an essential glossary for anyone reading argumentation literature.” Catherine Palczewski, University of Northern Iowa, USA “In Argumentation: The Key Concepts, Edward Schiappa provides an invaluable introduction and bibliography covering 175 central ideas that have shaped the study of public argument and formal logic. The book should be on the shelf of every argumentation scholar.” Robert C. Rowland, University of Kansa, USA

Author Information

Edward Schiappa is the John E. Burchard Professor of Humanities at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. His recent publications include Argumentation: Keeping Faith with Reason (Routledge, 2024) and The Transgender Exigency: Defining Sex & Gender in the 21st Century (Routledge, 2022).

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