In reasoning and argument mapping, a counterargument is an objection to an objection. A counterargument can be used to rebut an objection to a premise, a main contention or a lemma. Synonyms of counterargument may include rebuttal, reply, counterstatement, counterreason, comeback and response. The attempt to rebut an argument may involve generating a counterargument or finding a counterexample.[1]
Use
editTo speak of counterarguments is not to assume that there are only two sides to a given issue nor that there is only one type of counterargument.[2] For a given argument, there are often a large number of counterarguments, some of which are not compatible with each other.[2]
A counterargument might seek to cast doubt on facts of one or more of the first argument's premises, to show that the first argument's contention does not follow from its premises in a valid manner, or the counterargument might pay little attention to the premises and common structure of the first argument and simply attempt to demonstrate that the truth of a conclusion is incompatible with that of the first argument.
A counterargument can be issued against an argument retroactively from the point of reference of that argument. This form of counterargument — invented by the presocratic philosopher Parmenides – is commonly referred to as a retroactive refutation.[3]
Responding
editIn a debate or in speaking contextual evidence, a counterargument can be handled in a variety of ways.
Responding to a counterargument does not mean utterly obliterating it. You may concede it, minimise it, dismiss it as irrelevant, or attack the supporting evidence or underlying premise. Even if you grant the existence of a problem, you can differ from your audience on the best solution.[4]
— Jo Sprague and Douglas Stuart, The Speaker's Handbook
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Rahwan & Moraitis 2009, p. 186.
- ^ a b Zwiers 2004, p. 111.
- ^ Bollack, J. (1990). "La cosmologie parménidéenne de Parménide," in R. Brague and J.-F. Courtine (eds.), Herméneutique et ontologie: Mélanges en hommage à Pierre Aubenque. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France. p. 17-53.
- ^ Sprague & Stuart 2008, p. 326.
Works cited
edit- Rahwan, Iyad; Moraitis, Pavlos (16 February 2009). Argumentation in Multi-Agent Systems: Fifth International Workshop, ArgMAS 2008, Estoril, Portugal, May 12, 2008, Revised Selected and Invited Papers. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-3-642-00206-9.
- Sprague, Jo; Stuart, Douglas (29 December 2008). The Speaker's Handbook. Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-0-495-56747-9.
- Zwiers, Jeff (2004). Developing Academic Thinking Skills in Grades 6-12: A Handbook of Multiple Intelligence Activities. International Reading Association. ISBN 978-0-87207-557-3.
External links
edit- Harvey, Gordon: "Counter-Argument", adapted from The Academic Essay: A Brief Anatomy, The Writing Center, Harvard College
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