Argumentation support software: boxes-and-arrows and beyond

Abstract

This paper is about software to support argumentative tasks for lawyers. The focus is on the visualization and evaluation of warranted defeasible arguments. The opportunities provided by boxes-and-arrows diagrams of arguments are treated, but the paper also addresses limitations. It is argued that finding natural design, improving usefulness and including content are central research challenges for the field of argumentation support software. It is of highest priority that claims about the extent to which these challenges have been met become better supported by evidence, e.g. by empirical studies.