A Study On Toulmin’ Theory Of Argument Logic

Toulmin’s theory of argumentation logic which under the influence of Wittgenstein,Austin, Searle and Ryle’s ideas is developed to be a theoretical system through the thinking offormal logic limitations as well as the learning of legal argumentation mode. Toulmin’sargumentation mode includes basic mode whose elements are propositon, foudation as well aslegitimate reason and extended mode which introduces the concepts of support, refute andqualifiers according to the basic mode. Regarding the structure of legal argumentation as itsmodel, this mode achieves a dialectical unity of relativism&absolutism and empiricism&historicism by breaking through the structural limitations of logical argument patterns oftraditional forms and introducing the concepts of "probability" and "extended validity" to theform of argumentation. Toulmin believes that, there are natural differences of "field-constant"and "field-dependent" existing between different areas, therefore, the comparison andevaluation of arguments can only be carried out in the relevant fields but not different fields.As one of the core of Toulmin’s argumentation logic theory, theory of argumentation field haslaid a solid foundation for its interdisciplinary wide application and evaluation criteria foreach field demonstration, making it specifically applied in many other areas such as the law,mathematics and rhetoric.Although Toulmin’s argumentation logic theory has some limitations, the birth of it notonly has opened the practical turning of contemporary logics, but also let the scholars oflogics to re-examine the concept of it. Therefore we can say that Toulmin’s argumentationlogic theory has a profound impact on research and development of the logics.