Argument Quality: A Bayesian Perspective

Lecture by Ulrike Hahn (Birkbeck University of London), organized by the Department of Theoretical Philosophy

How to measure argument quality is a topic of concern for many disciplines. One long-standing tradition has sought to characterise everyday informal arguments in terms of typical 'schemes' and associated critical questions that may be used for argument evaluation.

The talk will discuss sample argumentation schemes from the literature (e.g., the appeal to popular opinion). Limitations of the scheme-based treatment of these argument forms are identified and it is shown how a Bayesian perspective may help to overcome these.

At the same time, the contributions of the standard scheme-based approach are highlighted, and it is argued that only a combination of the insights of different traditions will yield a complete normative theory of argument quality.

When & where?

Wednesday, November 19, 2014, 3.15-5 pm
Faculty of Philosophy, Room Omega