Suggests that the reverberation of avant-garde's question (What is argument?) frees the movement of thought from existing boundaries and reveals that present practices and studies of argument are merely institutional or traditional channels for thought. Proposes that critics of avant-garde argument undermine prevailing academic commitment to see…

Outlines two flaws in G. Thomas Goodnight's theory of the public sphere. Argues that Goodnight's distinction between the technical and public spheres is untenable and that modification of his position to recognize the technical nature of public argument strengthens the formulation. Suggests other more applicable terms to describe Goodnight's…

Enlightens the origins of argumentation theory through a description of the evolution of the concept and practice of philosophically oriented discussion. Describes how Plato adapted the sophistic concept of "dialegesthai" and how that adaptation is tied to his bifurcation of rhetoric and philosophy. (RS)

States that "rhetoric as epistemic" and the rhetoric of science have a common ancestor, rhetorical theory as a theory of argumentation and invention. Contends, further, that when the epistemic accounts venture too far from the dynamics of argumentation, the project is vulnerable to being absorbed by other disciplinary projects such as…

Clarifies how the scheme systems work in C. Perleman and L. Olbrechts-Tyteca's "The New Rhetoric," responds to a critique of it, and examines patterns of scheme use in five panel discussions. Concludes that the description of inferential scheme categories in "The New Rhetoric" is generally complete and useful for the study of…

Responds to Charles Willard's critique (in a previous article in this issue) of the author's critical study of argument spheres. Argues that critical analysis is essential for generating a social theory of argumentation. Emphasizes the independence and integrity of the spheres project in arguing against Willard's various substitutions and…

Considers reasons for the lack of interaction between dramatistic studies in rhetoric and argumentation theory. Proposes a rapprochement based on the implementing of contextualist assumptions in a critical argumentation. Traces the implications of Kenneth Burke's contextualist and dramatistic viewpoint for the study of argument. (NH)

Applies prevailing conceptions of proper argument to Burke's advocacy of the comic frame. Concludes these common conceptions cannot explain the power of Burke's arguments. Examines Richard Rorty's "edifying discourse" and Burke's "perspective by incongruity" as they illuminate the purpose of Burke's argumentation method. (NH)

Claims the American Forensic Association's (AFA) publications and conferences represent its principal commitment to research. Presents a review of the journals and conferences under AFA sponsorship. Reviews the strong commitment to research on the part of the AFA, particularly as it is manifested in the association's journal and in conferences.…

Argues one increasingly popular move in remaking moral philosophy and rhetorical and argumentation theory, the move to ally reason with emotion, is not without peril. Finds contemporary theories that link emotion to reason to be more promising than the Enlightenment's marginalization of emotion but not an improvement on the Enlightenment. Examines…

Points out that the condensed, mediated arguments found in today's public debates resemble Aristotle's enthymeme. Illustrates the similarities between classical and postmodern arguments through an analysis of the rhetoric of David Duke, and discusses the implications for how scholars conceptualize argument in the public sphere. (SR)

Focuses on the function of metaphor in argument. Compares the positions of Kenneth Burke and Paul Ricoeur on the function and evaluation of argument, concluding that Ricoeur's position supplements Burke's view of tropological argument. (NH)

Notes that John Dewey offers rhetorical studies a philosophical modernization of the eloquent citizen. Proposes that in so doing, an aesthetic-moral theory of communication emerges at the core of human subjectivity. Concludes that to better account for the role of communication in postmodern capitalism, rhetorical studies needs an…

Specifies certain assumptions in basic argumentation texts and argumentation pedagogy literature as representative of basic argumentation pedagogy. Revisits these ideas from the lens of rhetoric as epistemic to shape an existential view of argumentation. Outlines ideas for teaching argumentation that might represent existential argumentation…