ABSTRACT

Why We Argue (And How We Should): A Guide to Political Disagreement in an Age of Unreason presents an accessible and engaging introduction to the theory of argument, with special emphasis on the way argument works in public political debate. The authors develop a view according to which proper argument is necessary for one’s individual cognitive health; this insight is then expanded to the collective health of one’s society. Proper argumentation, then, is seen to play a central role in a well-functioning democracy.

Written in a lively style and filled with examples drawn from the real world of contemporary politics, and questions following each chapter to encourage discussion, Why We Argue (And How We Should) reads like a guide for the participation in, and maintenance of, modern democracy. An excellent student resource for courses in critical thinking, political philosophy, and related fields, Why We Argue (And How We Should) is an important contribution to reasoned debate.

What’s New in the Second Edition:

  • Updated examples throughout the book, including examples from the 2016 U.S. election and first years of the Trump presidency;
  • Expanded coverage of dialectical fallacies, including coverage of new types of fallacies and of sites where such fallacies thrive (e.g., cable news, social media);
  • Revised For Further Thought questions and definitions of Key Terms, included at the end of each chapter;
  • The addition of five new chapters:
    • Deep Disagreement
    • Argument by Analogy
    • Argument between the Ads
    • The Owl of Minerva (or weaponizing metalanguage)
    • Argumentative Responsibility and Repair.

part I|2 pages

A Conception of Argument

chapter 1|13 pages

Why Do We Argue?

chapter 2|19 pages

Why Argument Matters

chapter 3|18 pages

Public Argument in a Democratic Society

chapter 4|12 pages

Deep Disagreements

part II|2 pages

Case Studies in Public Argument

chapter 5|10 pages

The Simple Truth Thesis

chapter 6|16 pages

Pushovers

chapter 7|16 pages

Tone of Voice

chapter 8|15 pages

The Surprising Truth about Hypocrisy

chapter 9|9 pages

Arguments by Analogy

chapter 10|8 pages

Argumentation Between the Ads

chapter 11|14 pages

Language, Spin, and Framing

chapter 12|20 pages

Argument Online

part III|2 pages

Repairing Public Argument

chapter 13|11 pages

The Owl of Minerva Problem

chapter 15|5 pages

Civility in Argument