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Critical Arguments—The Toulmin Argumentation Schema (TAS)

In: Business Strategies for a Messy World: Tools for Systemic Problem-Solving

Author

Listed:
  • Vincent P. Barabba

    (Market Insight Corporation)

  • Ian I. Mitroff

    (University of Southern California)

Abstract

Complex arguments are a prime feature of complex business decisions. In 1958, the distinguished historian and philosopher of science, Stephen Toulmin, published a remarkable little book, The Uses of Argument. In it, he laid out the general structure of all arguments. It quickly became an academic bestseller. It was adopted widely in courses on Rhetoric, Political Science, International Affairs and Policy Analyses, etc. Although we first applied the Toulmin Argumentation Schema (TAS) to the analyses of complex business and governmental problems over 30 years ago, to the best of our knowledge, it has still not been widely adopted in schools of business and government, not to mention practice. Few outside of Rhetoric, Political Science, International Affairs and Policy Analyses, etc. even seem aware of it. This chapter exists in part to correct this unfortunate state of affairs. In short, the situations facing organizations are so complex, dynamic, important, and thorny such that whether they know it or not, they need ways of examining the major arguments on which their key decisions depend.

Suggested Citation

  • Vincent P. Barabba & Ian I. Mitroff, 2014. "Critical Arguments—The Toulmin Argumentation Schema (TAS)," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Business Strategies for a Messy World: Tools for Systemic Problem-Solving, chapter 2, pages 11-21, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palchp:978-1-137-38640-3_2
    DOI: 10.1057/9781137386403_2
    as

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