What Makes a Good Argument? Toward a Theory of Evaluation

Using the results of the last chapter, I shift the focus now to the task of developing a theory of appraisal that derives from informal logic. This theory has two components. The first component is a theory of evaluation. This theory answers the question, “What qualities or properties make an argument a good one?” I deal with that question in this chapter. The second component will be a theory of criticism. ¹ That theory will answer the question, “What are the principles that govern good criticism?” I deal with that question in chapter 8.