An Argument map is a visual representation of the structure of an argument in informal logic. It includes the components of an argument such as a main contention, premises, co-premises, objections, rebuttals and lemmas. Look up argument in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Informal logic is the study of arguments as presented in ordinary language, as contrasted with the presentations of arguments in an artificial (technical) or formal language (see formal logic). ... In both formal and informal logic, a main contention is a thought which is capable of being either true or false and is usually the most controversial proposition being argued for. ... Look up Premise in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A co-premise is a premise in reasoning and informal logic which is not the main supporting reason for a contention or a lemma, but is logically necessary to ensure the validity of an argument. ... In informal logic an objection, also known as a refutation, is a reason arguing against a premise, lemma or main contention. ... In reasoning, a counterargument is simply an argument that opposes another argument. ... In informal logic and argument mapping, a lemma is simultaneously a contention for premises below it and a premise for a contention above it. ...

Argument Maps are often used in the teaching of reasoning and critical thinking, and can support the analysis of pros and cons when deliberating over wicked problems. Reasoning is the mental (cognitive) process of looking for reasons to support beliefs, conclusions, actions or feelings. ... are you kiddin ? i was lookin for it for hours ... The concept of wicked problems was originally proposed by H. J. Rittel (a pioneering theorist of design and planning, and late professor at the University of California, Berkeley) and M. Webber in a seminal treatise for social planning. ...

The latest advacement in argument mapping enables research and analysis of naturalistic human decision making in real life contexts of risk and uncertainty. These techniques are presented by Facione and Facione in Thinking and Reasoning in Human Decision Making: The Method of Argument and Heuristic Analysis (The California Academic Press, 2007). This book describes the theory, technique, and application of this new analytical methodology. Among other things it shows how to construct decision maps from oral and textual expressions of individual or group decisions. A&H Method decision maps illustrate the combinination of reasons-claim argument strands as well as the influences of cognitive heuristics and psychological dominance structuring which emerge from those data.

Examples of argument maps

Argument Mapping Software

• Argunet (open source, cross platform/java)
• Araucaria (open source, cross platform/java)
• Argumentative (open source, windows)
• Athena (free for non-commercial use, windows and perhaps Linux and Mac)
• bCisive (commercial, Windows); supports reasoning and decision making by mapping decision problems, options and arguments.
• Compendium: designed to support deliberation over issues, ideas and arguments in Wicked problems. Provides visual templates for Argumentation Schemes (free source, cross platform/java)
• Reason!Able (commercial, Windows), superseded by Rationale
• Rationale (commercial, Windows); supports simple "Reasoning" maps and more advanced "Analysis" maps
• truthmapping.com online collaborative argument mapping.
• debategraph.org (free, creative commons); online collaborative debate and argument mapping.

Decision making is the cognitive process of selecting a course of action from among multiple alternatives. ... The concept of wicked problems was originally proposed by H. J. Rittel (a pioneering theorist of design and planning, and late professor at the University of California, Berkeley) and M. Webber (1) in a seminal treatise for social planning. ...

See also

• Argumentation theory
• Concept Map
• Informal fallacy
• Maralee Harrell
• Mind Map
• Peter Facione
• Noreen Facione
• Tim van Gelder
• truthmapping video

Argumentation theory, or argumentation, embraces the arts and sciences of civil debate, dialogue, conversation, and persuasion. ... Concept mapping is a technique for visualizing the relationships among different concepts. ... In Philosophical logic, an informal fallacy is a pattern of reasoning which is false due to the falsity of one or more of its premises. ... A hand-drawn mind map A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks or other items linked to and arranged radially around a central key word or idea. ... Tim van Gelder is an associate professor of philosophy and a fellow of the Philosophy Department at the University of Melbourne. ...

Further reading

Facione, P. and Facione N. (2007). Thinking and Reasoning in Human Decision Making: The Method of Argument and Heuristic Analysis. [1]

Harrell, Maralee (2005) Using Argument Diagramming Software in the Classroom. [2]

Kirschner, P., Buckingham Shum, S. & Carr, C. (2003) Visualizing Argumentation: Software Tools for Collaborative and Educational Sense-Making Springer-Verlag, London.

Twardy, Dr. Charles R. (2003) Argument Maps Improve Critical Thinking. Teaching Philosophy 27:2 June 2004. Preprints: [3] [4]

Verheij, B. (2005) Virtual Arguments. On the Design of Argument Assistants for Lawyers and Other Arguers. T.M.C. Asser Press, The Hague.