Argumentation: Approaches to theory formation. Containing the contributions to the Groningen Conference on the Theory of Argumentation, October 1978

The contributions in the first part ‘Re-modelling logic’ of this volume take account of formal logic in the theory of ‘rational’ argumentation. Part two contains papers that distinguish the various dialogue games for logics in terms of ‘rights’ and ‘obligations’ of the players. The authors following in the third section study the interaction between participants in a dialogue. Here the tools of the logician are used for the wider purpose of studying the nature of dialogue. The fourth section concern modes of argumentation that are actually found in philosopical texts from earlier centuries. To be followed by contributions in Part five that may be read as attempts to retrieve what was left of the spirit of criticism and debate in philosphy after the onslaught of Cartesianism and idealism.