Session Five: Deliberation and Reasoning–Ideals and Frameworks

It is generally agreed that good deliberation is governed by reason.  But what exactly does it mean to be rational?  12 Angry Men showed us that mere saying something is a fact does not make it so, and that evidence can be hard to correctly interpret.  So how do we know the difference between a well-reasoned argument and something that only appears to be so?   This week we will study a number of approaches to reasoned argument.

First Task: In preparation for next week’s class, go to the website for DHMO.org and review its contents.  Then respond to this post.

Open up a window so that you can read the Declaration of Independence by clicking here.  It will be referred to in the upcoming lecture.

Second Task: Watch this lecture on Argumentation.  Warning: do not watch this lecture before you have completed the previous week’s tasks.

Third Task: Read Hoffman, “Deliberative Argumentation,” and Fairbanks, “Policy.”  Click here to access these readings.  (The heading will say Monday, but the readings are correct).

Fourth Task:  By the night prior to class, comment on this post, and this post.  Be prepared to discuss your postings in class.