The ability to argue well is one of the core competencies expected of citizens, politicians, companies, and students. The purpose of this course is to discuss and provide a vocabulary and instruments for the analysis, evaluation, and production of good real-life argumentation. The course does not cover traditional propositional logic. Instead we approach real-life argumentation from the perspective of argumentation theory, also known as informal logic. The starting point lies at Pragma-Dialectical theory. Additionally, we consider the rhetorical aspects of argumentation.

The course consists of a series of seminars, each with a different angle on argumentation. Topics included are, among others, the elements of argumentation, the enthymeme, fallacies, evaluation, and the relationship between logical and rhetorical argumentation.

After the course, you will be able independently and critically to analyse and evaluate authentic argumentation in everyday contexts and to better produce stringent argumentation with a persuasive aim.

Based on the course literature, examination takes the form of short written analyses and assignments and a practical or theoretical case-study of a select area of interest, such as a specific fallacy or a feature in a real-life case of argumentation.

The course is useful for students from all faculties and disciplines.