means these two things. It seems to be a wide-spread idea among many classes of men. For this reason, the aim of this book is to point out clearly that there is argumentation the most important kind of all, since it is fundamental to all others—which exists independent of the rules which have been formulated to govern the handling of evidence in courts, independent of legal procedure, and which can be understood without any study of books of Formal Logic. It is the argumentation of everyday life, the principles of which every intelligent man should understand. These principles the following pages try to expound simply and interestingly. If this book were my first attempt to teach Argumentation on this basis I should print it with trepidation, but in some years of teaching with this idea of Argumentation constantly in view I have seen indifference to the subject, even intolerance, among my students, change to growing interest change that, by the testimony of both the students and those who have assisted in the work, is due to the basing of the teaching on just this idea. a This book is intended, then, to give a student a training in Argumentation, which must precede his study of the special rules of procedure belonging to courts, the rules that there govern the handling of evidence; which may interest him in a later study of the laws of logic that underlie all thinking, — in Formal Logic, if he wishes. It is offered as a more elaborate treatise than that which in most books on Rhetoric space permits. It is, in a sense, introductory to such a book as Professor Robinson's Forensic Oratory, which is written distinctly for the young lawyer. That throughout this book written Argumentation is chiefly considered is not because the following pages were originally developed before classes which were busy only with written argumentative work. It is because I believe that for the speaker as well as the writer the principles which lead to convincingness merely - not to persuasion are practically the same; and, most important of all, because I am convinced that the easiest, the most rapid method for a speaker to acquire good form, and an ability to handle evidence well, is for him to write out his work until he has mastered the principles in this book which lead to convincingness merely. It is a sad fact that the so-called extemporaneous speakers, though often admirable in persuasion, are usually far less successful in conviction, because their work lacks form and a skillful handling of evidence. These two powers can come only from constant practice and careful criticism by one's self and others of the results. A preliminary writing out of the arguments offers the best means for this growth through criticism. Little by little as a student becomes more accustomed to speaking, readier on his feet, he can speak from full notes merely; then from a full brief; then from a very slight brief; eventually he may perhaps be able to speak without any brief. Doubtless the speaker who seems independent of his notes, or at least of his written discourse, has most control of his audience, but such independence, combined with good form and con of vincingness, is an acquired power. The masters Argumentation have not been ashamed to attain by the method just explained their final mastery of their art. The principles set forth in this book, the queries answered, I have so often talked over with the assistants who, at Harvard and Wellesley, have aided me in my work, that I feel the results here given are as much theirs as mine. I owe so much in the past, also, to their enthusiasm and their intelligent devotion to their work, that I cannot refrain from recognizing my indebtedness. For valuable suggestions while this book has been going through the press and for reading of the proofs I wish in particular to thank Assistant-Professor S. C. Hart of Wellesley College, and Mr. F. G. Caffey, of Montgomery, Alabama. For the classification of definitions used on pp. 54-59 I am indebted to Professor Genung in his Practical Elements of Rhetoric. CAMBRIDGE, Sept. 20, 1895. |