Virtual Arguments: On the Design of Argument Assistants for Lawyers and Other Arguers

Virtual Arguments examines assistance software; software which supports argumentative tasks and can help with the organization, visualization and evaluation of arguments. The main focus of the book is on defeasible argumentation. Argumentation is defeasible when it is possible that conclusions are withdrawn in the light of further argumentation. The domain of application is the law, where the defeasibility of argumentation is common and often essential. This interdisciplinary study reports on current research in artificial intelligence, legal theory and argumentation theory. It is relevant for all those who are interested in defeasible argumentation, legal reasoning and argument assistance software. The author combines theoretical reflection with illustrative examples and provides an overview of research into the design of argumentation software, which will be of interest both to researchers in the field of artificial intelligence and the law, and to legal practitioners.