Reconstructing Argumentative Discourse.

• Author: Benoit, Pamela J.

Reconstructing Argumentative Discourse summarizes, integrates, and extends the work of four respected innovators in argumentation theory. In this book, Van Eemeren and Grootendorst's normative pragma-dialectical theory and Jackson and Jacobs' descriptive analyses of the structure of conversational argument are wedded. The attraction is a common interest in speech acts.

The union of normative and descriptive approaches evolves in three parts. The first two chapters reiterate the authors' theoretical positions. Reconstruction of arguments is championed and illustrated in the next two chapters. This is succeeded by three chapters that explore theoretical issues implicated in applying the ideal model to examples of everyday argumentation. The last chapter projects a future research agenda.

In the first chapter, Grice's cooperative principle and speech act theory are interpreted as descriptions of the natural organization of normative standards of rationality. Prior commitments from pragma-dialectical theory to the externalization of disagreement, the social and collaborative nature of argumentation, the function of argument in resolving disputes, and the dialectical positioning of argument as critical discussion with normative standards of rationality are contrasted with approaches to argument that are cognitive, individualized, structural, and descriptive. While this is helpful in positioning the authors' work, it is surprising that other specific programs of argumentation research are not situated in this discussion.

Five facets of an ambitious research program are recounted in the second chapter. Research with a philosophical emphasis concentrates on a standard of reasonableness based in critical discussion that attempts to avoid the difficulties of both relative and absolute standards. Research with a normative thrust centers on the ideal model of argumentation. The empirical research agenda concerns the actual practice of argumentation, evaluating the validity of the ideal model by its ability to distinguish exemplary from deficient argumentation and to reflect standards that participants would accept. The intent of the analytic research is to reconstruct the structure of actual argumentation. Research on the practical implications turns toward improving individual and societal competence in argumentation. The latter part of this chapter takes up the normative research objective, summarizing the ideal model of pragma-dialectical theory...