The Generalized Criterion of Relevance for Argument Evaluation

Abstract

The paper is devoted to the relevance criterion of argument evaluation within argumentation theory. Argument evaluation is a tool to avoid misunderstanding and misleading in argumentation — one of the most basic forms of human communications. The purpose of the paper is to outline the generalized relevance criterion, which involves the key relevance types proposed in different approaches to argumentation. Achieving this goal helps to give a clear answer to the question, “What is to be relevant within the argumentative communication?” The author proves that the key features of logical relevance, dialectical relevance, and audience relevance. It is compared these relevant types to answer the question, “Whether is it possible to integrate them into one generalized criterion of relevance?”

Keywords

• real argument
• logical relevance
• dialectical relevance
• audience-relevance
• informal consequence