Formal Dialectical systems and Their Uses in the Study of Argumentation

In this paper we offer an explanation of how formal dialectical systems are useful for modeling important aspects of argumentation, like dealing with fallacies. This aim is accomplished by presenting a brief outline of the main characteristics and rules of two representative systems, one of the Hamblin type and one of the Lorenzen type. We use these two systems to discuss aspects of argumentation that have turned out to be important, showing that the best way to apply such systems is to build what we call a laboratory of rules. Using this laboratory, formal dialectical systems (and the related method of profiles of dialogue) can be used as flexible instruments to solve specific problems of argumentation. Combining a plurality of dialectical systems with a plurality of types of dialogue to tackle real problems is shown to be the most promising approach.