Universität Wien

180013 IK Rhetoric and Theory of Argumentation (2016W)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie
Continuous assessment of course work

Summary

1 Raleigh , Moodle
2 Schmitz , Moodle
4 Sampietro , Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
Registration information is available for each group.

Groups

Group 1

max. 45 participants
Language: English
LMS: Moodle

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Wednesdays, 09.45 – 11.15, Hörsaal 3F NIG (3. Stock)

  • Wednesday 12.10. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 19.10. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Monday 14.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 16.11. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 23.11. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 30.11. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 07.12. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 14.12. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 11.01. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 18.01. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 25.01. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock

Aims, contents and method of the course

Course Outline: This course provides an introduction to the theory of argumentation. Its aim is to help you to understand the wide variety of forms of argument that exist – and understand which kinds of argument are good and which are bad – so that you will be able to argue and reason more effectively. The course will also introduce and explain a range of standard philosophical terms and distinctions so that you can read philosophical texts more fluently and avoid misusing technical terminology in your own philosophy essays. Some of the main questions we will explore include:
• What is an argument?
• What kinds of argument are there?
• How can we evaluate whether an argument is good or bad?
• What are the main kinds of fallacies in reasoning that we should try to avoid?
• How should we reason about chances and probability?

NOTE: This course will be conducted entirely in English!

Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course students should be able to:
• Recognise the logical form of deductive arguments
• Formulate their own examples of argument forms
• Be able to assess arguments for validity
• Be able to identify flaws in arguments
• Know the major fallacies to avoid and the ability to spot them
• Grasp the basics of Probability and Bayesian theory
• Understand and be able to correctly employ standard philosophical terminology

Assessment and permitted materials

Course Assessment: Approximately every 2-3 weeks there will be a 30-minute written exam in class (see schedule, below). There will also be other occasional shorter written exercises as homework. These tests and exercises will altogether account for 85% of your overall mark.
Course assessment will also take into account participation in class, which will account for 15% of your overall mark. This includes not only active participation in class activities – e.g. asking appropriate questions, suggesting examples, answering questions posed to the class, cooperating with fellow students in group exercises – but also punctuality and respectful behaviour towards the instructor and fellow students.

The handout for each lesson will be posted in Moodle immediately after class. The written exercises will NOT be available on Moodle. Students will have to be in class in order to take the in-class tests.

Reading list


Readings: There is no obligatory course textbook for this course. All that is required is that you follow the material presented in class carefully so that you are able to answer the written exercises. There are very many good introductory books on logic, probability, informal arguments or critical reasoning that interested students could usefully consult. However, the following books may well be especially useful as I have consulted them frequently when preparing this course:
• Baggini and Fosl "The Philosopher's Toolkit" (Wiley-Blackwell)
• Papineau "Philosophical Devices" (OUP)
• Kahnemann "Thinking, Fast and Slow" (Farrar, Strauss & Giroux)

Group 2

Wir werden die Struktur von Sprechakten, grundlegende Formen des Schließens und Argumentierens sowie rhetorische Kunstgriffe anhand klassischer Texte von Searle, Peirce, Aristoteles und Schopenhauer studieren und dann auf dieser Basis einige philosophische Argumentationen analysieren.

max. 45 participants
Language: German
LMS: Moodle

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 12.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 19.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 09.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 16.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 23.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 30.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 07.12. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 14.12. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 11.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 18.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
  • Wednesday 25.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock

Aims, contents and method of the course

Ziel ist es, ein grundlegendes Verständnis von Schlüssen und rhetorischen Mitteln zu erwerben und die Fähigkeit zu üben, dieses Verständnis selbstständig und kritisch bei der Analyse philosophischer Argumentationen anzuwenden. Methoden dazu werden schriftliche Vorbereitungen, Wiederholungen und Referate, Dozentenvortrag und die Seminardiskussion sein.

Assessment and permitted materials

Stundenvorbereitungen, Wiederholungen und Referate, schriftliche Abschlussprüfung.

Reading list

Wird per Moodle zugänglich gemacht. Das Büchlein von Schopenhauer "Die Kunst, recht zu behalten" bitte anschaffen!

Group 4

max. 45 participants
Language: English
LMS: Moodle

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

NOTE: This group will be taught in English!

  • Tuesday 11.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 18.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 25.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 08.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 15.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 22.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 29.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 06.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 13.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 10.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 17.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 24.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 31.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228

Aims, contents and method of the course

Arguments play a central role in philosophy. The aim of this course is to introduce students to different argumentative schemes typically employed in philosophical writings and debates, as well as to familiarize them with the jargon used to talk about arguments. Students will acquire the skills to evaluate the effectiveness of arguments, including learning to spot argumentative flaws and fallacies. Additionally, some sessions will be dedicated to the history of argumentative theory and controversies over the role of persuasion and its limitations.

Assessment and permitted materials

Attendance and class participation (incl. discussion inputs and exercises)
Presentation of part of a reading assignment
short exam
short essay

Reading list

Main texts:
Baggini, J. and Fosl, Peter. The Philosopher's Toolkit.
Groarke, Leo A. and Tindale, Christopher W. Good Reasoning Matters!
Toulin, S. The uses of Argument.

Additional readings:
Mercier, H and Sperber, D. "Why do humans reasons? Arguments for an
Argumentative Theory"
Meiland, Jack. "Argument as inquiry and argument as persuasion"
Scott, Robert. "On Viewing Rhetoric as Epistemic."

A complete syllabus will be handed out in the first session.
All reading material will be made available on Moodle.

Information

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Examination topics

Gesamter Inhalt der LV.

Association in the course directory

BA 3.3
HPS M1.1, M1.3

Last modified: Sa 10.09.2022 00:19