Marcia Martínez García

It is often assumed that Wittgenstein’s ideas – at least those of the “later” Wittgenstein – indirectly influenced the contemporary re-establishment of the field of Argumentation Theory. Above all, because of his apparent influence on some of the authors considered as founding figures of this field, such as S. Toulmin, C. Perelman or C.L. Hamblin. Despite this, the literature regarding the specific impact that Wittgensteinian thought had on the development of these authors’ ideas is not abundant and, moreover, some of the leading figures in the field – such as Johnson (2010) – have even questioned the degree and/or importance of this usually presupposed influence. Therefore, my basic aim will be trying to show how Wittgenstein’s influence is evident, at least, in Toulmin’s conception of argumentation. To this end, I will argue: (1) against Johnson, that Wittgenstein’s influence on this Toulminian conception is evident and absolutely relevant; (2) That some of the concepts that Toulmin developed in The Uses of Argument – and which still have a place in current theories of argumentation – draw on Wittgensteinian intuitions; and (3) that Toulmin’s own urge to go beyond the hegemonic formal logic of his time arises, in part, from the acceptance of a pragmatic and contextualist conception of language which is clearly inspired by Wittgenstein.

Marcia Martínez García (pre-doctoral fellow at the Complutense University of Madrid)

To join the session on Zoom, please contact Robert Vinten at rvinten@fcsh.unl.pt for the details.

This is the first of a series of RIP seminars within the scope of the activities of the Lisbon Wittgenstein Group, coordinated by Nuno Venturinha (ArgLab/IFILNOVA).