From Ideal Model of Critical Discussion to Situated Argumentative Discourse: The Step-by-Step Development of the Pragma-Dialectical Theory of Argumentation

Abstract

I started developing the pragma-dialectical theory of argumentation, together with Rob Grootendorst, at the University of Amsterdam in the 1970s. Our primary interest was to provide adequate tools for enhancing the quality of the way in which people justify their views and analyse and critically review the justifications of views they encounter in communicating with others. Because of the importance of such justifications for what people believe, associate themselves with and do, we considered argumentation of great intellectual, social and practical significance. A systematic reflection on the tools enabling an adequate production, analysis and evaluation of argumentation seemed therefore crucial to us.