Argument appraisal strategy: A comprehensive approach

• Main Author: Robert H. Ennis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Windsor 2001-01-01
• Series: Informal Logic
• Subjects: critical thinking; argument; argument appraisal; induction; deduction; qualified reasoning
• Online Access: https://informallogic.ca/index.php/informal_logic/article/view/2240

A popular three-stage argument appraisal strategy calls for (1) identifying the parts of the argument, (2) classifYing the argument as deductive, inductive, or some other type, and (3) appraising the argument using the standards appropriate for the type. This strategy fails for a number of reasons. I propose a comprehensive alternative approach that distinguishes between inductive, deductive, and other standards; calls for the successive application of standards combined with assumption-ascription, according to policies that depend for their selection on the goals of the appraiser; and provides for qualified reasoning.