At least since Descartes, reasoning is generally seen as a tool of individual cognition. It should lead to new beliefs, improve the epistemic status of existing beliefs or help us make better decisions. The argumentative theory of reasoning opposes this classical view and suggests that the real function of reasoning is to argue. More precisely, reasoning is designed to find and evaluate reasons so that we can try to convince others and evaluate the arguments that aim at convincing us...





































































(c) Jean-Yves Trémois (found here)