Some Important Issues On Toulmin’s Argumentation Theory

A central issue throughout Toulmin’s academic research is how to provide rational exposition and criticism to the arguments that appear in different academic research and professional work fields.Inspired by the way of argumentation in the field of law,Toulmin presents a model of analyzing argumentation considering the difference of people’s argumentation behavior in different fields.This paper attempts to analyze Toulmin’s books and articles,through the analysis of the key concepts,points out that the concepts of "warrant" and "field" in Toulmin’s argumentation theory reflects his aim is to create a more epistemological and empirical logic,which is closely related to Toulmin’s "reasonableness".The thesis has five parts: the main content of the first part is the introduction of the topic,the domestic and foreign research status of the topic and the problems to be discussed in this paper;The first chapter mainly explores the key element of Toulmin’s argumentation model "warrant",discusses the reason,essence and basic characteristics of "warrant" and the problems and responses that arise after the introduction of "warrant";The second chapter is mainly about the study of Toulmin’s "field",the discussion of "field" and its related concepts,the field dependence and independence in the elements of argumentation analysis,and the problems and responses caused by the introduction of the field;The third chapter is to study Toulmin’s rational view,reasonableness and rationality,the root of epistemology,as well as Toulmin’s logical view;Finally,summarize the content of this paper,and discuss the value and existing problems of Toulmin’s ideas.