Theory and Practice of Argumentation
Code: 108880Credits: 6
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy | FB | 1 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Alejandro Mesa Villajos
- Email :
- alejandro.mesa@uab.cat
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
There are no specific prerequisites for this course.
Objectives
General Learning Objectives
- To provide students with the conceptual and methodological tools required to understand, analyse, and construct rigorous arguments.
- To develop students’ critical thinking skills, enabling them to identify valid reasoning and detect fallacies in both spoken and written discourse.
- To promote the responsible and ethical use of argumentation in academic, social, and professional contexts.
Specific Learning Objectives
- To construct sound and coherent arguments, both orally and in writing, adapting them to different contexts and audiences.
- To understand the philosophical distinction between opinion and knowledge, as well as its relationship to argumentative processes.
- To identify and classify fallacies and eristic strategies, and to understand their role in different forms of discourse.
- To analyse the relationship between rhetoric, persuasion, and truth within the Western philosophical tradition.
- To understand the relationship between discourse, power, and the construction of subjectivity through the work of different authors.
- To apply the tools of argumentative analysis to the critical interpretation of contemporary philosophical, political, and cultural discourses.
Learning outcomes
- CM05 (Formulate reasoned opinions in a supervised manner and based on the analysis of philosophical problems.) Formulate reasoned opinions in a supervised manner and based on the analysis of philosophical problems.
- CM06 (Use the philosophical instruments necessary for ethical, political and aesthetic deliberation, with awareness of their relevance in diverse social and cultural contexts.) Use the philosophical instruments necessary for ethical, political and aesthetic deliberation, with awareness of their relevance in diverse social and cultural contexts.
- CM07 (Generate individual and collective practices of openness and rational dialogue integrating active listening, respect for the plurality of opinions through the identification and discussion of inequalities and gender biases in the construction of reasoned consensus.) Generate individual and collective practices of openness and rational dialogue integrating active listening, respect for the plurality of opinions through the identification and discussion of inequalities and gender biases in the construction of reasoned consensus.
- KM05 (Associate the fundamental concepts of philosophical thought: being, truth, value, action, expression, beauty, justice (and its historical development), which structure the different philosophical disciplines.) Associate the fundamental concepts of philosophical thought: being, truth, value, action, expression, beauty, justice (and its historical development), which structure the different philosophical disciplines.
- KM06 (Define the structures and modes of philosophical reasoning, the types of logical, ontological, ethical and aesthetic frameworks from a plural and critical perspective, taking into account the forms of construction of discourses in terms of gender.) Define the structures and modes of philosophical reasoning, the types of logical, ontological, ethical and aesthetic frameworks from a plural and critical perspective, taking into account the forms of construction of discourses in terms of gender.
- KM07 (Identify the essential elements of philosophical practice such as conceptual analysis, the construction of arguments, rational deliberation and the use of language in persuasion and dialogue.) Identify the essential elements of philosophical practice such as conceptual analysis, the construction of arguments, rational deliberation and the use of language in persuasion and dialogue.
- KM43 (Recognise concepts, assumptions and forms of argumentation in classical and contemporary philosophical texts in order to explain their meaning and theoretical relevance.) Recognise concepts, assumptions and forms of argumentation in classical and contemporary philosophical texts in order to explain their meaning and theoretical relevance.
- SM05 (Developindividual reasoning in a debate on a philosophical topic that includes critical arguments and objections based on a diverse perspective.) Developindividual reasoning in a debate on a philosophical topic that includes critical arguments and objections based on a diverse perspective.
- SM06 (Prepare basic, clear, well-structured and argumentatively solid philosophical discourses, both in written and oral format in the writing and defense of an explicit thesis, for the logical organisation of ideas and with the rigorous incorporation of sources.) Prepare basic, clear, well-structured and argumentatively solid philosophical discourses, both in written and oral format in the writing and defense of an explicit thesis, for the logical organisation of ideas and with the rigorous incorporation of sources.
- SM07 (Apply theoretical and practical philosophical tools (concepts and forms of argumentation) to the analysis and evaluation of current discourses, problems or phenomena.) Apply theoretical and practical philosophical tools (concepts and forms of argumentation) to the analysis and evaluation of current discourses, problems or phenomena.
- SM44 (Analyse philosophical arguments, identifying theses, internal coherence, and discursive strategies in order to evaluate their logical soundness.) Analyse philosophical arguments, identifying theses, internal coherence, and discursive strategies in order to evaluate their logical soundness.
Contents
1. Foundations of Argumentation
- What is an argument? Argumentation Theory. Logic, dialectics, and rhetoric.
- Argumentative fallacies.
- The philosophical foundations of argumentation: Sophistry, the relationship between opinion and knowledge, rhetoric, and persuasion.
2. Discourse and Power
- Discourse, power, and argumentation in modern and contemporary thought.
- The relationships between discourse, truth, subjectivity, and power.
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 24 | 0.96 | CM05, CM06, KM05, KM06, KM07, KM43, SM06, SM07, SM44 |
| Studying the course content, reading the required bibliography, and preparing the assessment activities. | 65 | 2.6 | CM06, KM05, KM06, KM07, KM43, SM07, SM44 |
| In-person activities | 24 | 0.96 | CM05, CM06, CM07, KM05, KM06, KM07, KM43, SM05, SM06, SM07, SM44 |
| Guidance tutorials for the assessment activities. | 10 | 0.4 | CM05 |
Learning Activities and Teaching Methodology.
The course is structured around lectures and practical sessions, conceived as complementary learning environments.
The lectures are intended to introduce the fundamental concepts of Argumentation Theory and to present the main philosophical problems and authors that underpin the course. Lectures will be combined with the reading and discussion of philosophical texts, as well as with the analysis of examples drawn from different forms of discourse.
The practical sessions are designed to apply the concepts covered in the lectures through activities such as argument analysis and reconstruction, the identification of fallacies, textual analysis, oral and written argumentation exercises, debates, and other participatory learning activities.
Students are expected to participate actively in the proposed activities, prepare the required readings, and complete independently the assignments, presentations, and exercises scheduled throughout the course.
The Virtual Campus will serve as the main platform for communication with students, the distribution of teaching materials, and the monitoring of course activities.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group presentation | 30% | 1.5 | 0.06 | CM05, CM06, CM07, KM05, KM06, KM07, KM43, SM05, SM06, SM07 |
| In-person written theoretical examination. | 40% | 1.5 | 0.06 | CM05, CM06, KM05, KM06, KM07, KM43, SM07, SM44 |
| Individual Commentary/Argument (Video) | 15% | 3 | 0.12 | CM05, CM06, SM05, SM06, SM07, SM44 |
| Classroom activities | 15% | 21 | 0.84 | CM05, CM06, CM07, KM05, KM06, KM07, KM43, SM05, SM06, SM07, SM44 |
Assessment will consist of the following components:
- In-person written theoretical examination covering both blocks of the course (40%).
- Group oral presentation (in pairs or small groups) on a topic chosen by the students and approved in advance by the instructor (30%).
- Active participation in in-class practical activities (15%). This is awarded on an all-or-nothing basis according to the student’s participation in class. Only two unexcused absences from the practical sessions are permitted.
- Individual commentary/argument. Submission of a video presenting and developing an argument, on a topic agreed in advance with the instructor (15%).
Review of assessment: students are entitled to review all assessed activities.
Non-assessable: students will receive the grade “Non-Assessable” if they complete assessment activities worth no more than 30% of the final grade.
Single assessment: this course does not offer a single-assessment option.
In those situations where, in accordance with Article 264 of the Academic Regulations and the supporting documentation that justifies them, assessment activities scheduled for the first assessment period must be rescheduled, such activities shall be rescheduled and held on the same date as the assessment activity corresponding to the second assessment period of the course or, where applicable, during the resit assessment period.
If the circumstance affects an assessment activity scheduled for the second assessment period, the activity shall be rescheduled to the date established for the resit assessment period, without affecting the resit process established for the course.
In all cases, taking into account the specific circumstances, the Degree Coordination, in agreement with the Course Coordination, may determine an alternative date if deemed appropriate.
Bibliography
Core bibliography.
Textbooks
- Fosl, P. S. The Critical Thinking Toolkit. Wiley-Blackwell.
- Weston, A. A Rulebook for Arguments. Hackett Publishing.
Primary Sources
Aristotle. Poética. Alianza Editorial.
Aristotle. Retórica. Alianza Editorial.
Butler, J. Cuerpos que importan. Paidós.
Butler, J. El género en disputa. Paidós.
Foucault, M. El orden del discurso. Tusquets.
Foucault, M. Historia de la sexualidad I: La voluntad de saber. Siglo XXI.
Haraway, D. J. Ciencia, cyborgs y mujeres: La reinvención de la naturaleza. Cátedra.
Haraway, D. J. Seguir con el problema. Consonni.
Machiavelli, N. El príncipe. Alianza Editorial.
Mbembe, A. La comunidad terrestre, Ned Ediciones.
Nietzsche, F. Sobre verdad y mentira en sentido extramoral. Tecnos.
Plato. La República. Alianza Editorial.
Preciado, P. B. Testo yonqui. Anagrama.
Schopenhauer, A. El arte de tener razón. Alianza Editorial.
Software
No specific software is required (only access to the Virtual Campus and the ability to record video).
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (TE) Theory | 2 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 2 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 11 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 12 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |