Books by Frans H. van Eemeren

pragma-dialectical perspectives on the dialectical and pragmatic dimensions of argumentative discourse; The pragma-dialectical quantitative approach to empirical research on argumentative discourse is illustrated by reporting on selected, illustrative experimental studies, as well as qualitative studies of historical cases.

This volume gives a theoretical account of the problem of analyzing and evaluating argumentative discourse. After placing argumentation in a communicative perspective, and then discussing the fallacies that occur when certain rules of communication are violated, the authors offer an alternative to both the linguistically-inspired descriptive and logically-inspired normative approaches to argumentation. The authors characterize argumentation as a complex speech act in a critical discussion aimed at resolving a difference of opinion. The various stages of a critical discussion are outlined, and the communicative and interactional aspects of the speech acts performed in resolving a simple or complex dispute are discussed. After dealing with crucial aspects of analysis and linking the evaluation of argumentative discourse to the analysis, the authors identify the fallacies that can occur at various stages of discussion. Their general aim is to elucidate their own pragma- dialectical perspective on the analysis and evaluation of argumentative discourse, bringing together pragmatic insight concerning speech acts and dialectical insight concerning critical discussion.

This text provides a comprehensive survey of the various theoretical contributions which have been made to the study of argumentation. It discusses the historical works that provide the background to the field and major approaches and trends in contemporary research.

First Published in 1992. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

In this book, the authors report on their Systematic Empirical Research of the Conventional Validity of the Pragma-Dialectical Discussion Rules. Starting from a clearly defined theoretical basis, they report about a continued series of experimental tests.

This volume identifies and analyses English words and expressions that are crucial for an adequate reconstruction of argumentative discourse. By starting from everyday examples, the study immediately connects with the practice of argumentative discourse.