Module:Semantic argument

Semantic argument is a type of inductive argument, in which one modifies the meaning of the term in order to support his or her argument. Semantic argument is commonly used in public discourse, in marketing, also in academic and religious debates. Most commonly such semantic modification are being introduced through persuasive definitions, but there are also other way of modifying meaning (like attribution or classification). There are many subtypes of semantic arguments such as: No True Scotsman arguments, Arguments from Verbal Classification, Arguments from definition or Arguments to definition.

Structure

Since there are various types of semantic arguments, there are also various argumentation schemes to this argument. Most commonly these are argument from definition and argument to definition (as distinguished by Peter of Spain):

Argument to Definition

Argument to definition are aimed to include certain object into the extension of given definition – sometimes this might be the end of reasoning ("this is racism"). Obviously the semantic modification is being introduced through persuasive definition in

• Individual Premise: A possesses some property F.
• Definition Premise: For all x, if possesses some property F, then x fits definition D.
• Conclusion: A fits definition D.

Argument from Definition

Sometimes the argument can start from definition and to include certain property in it, in order to attribute this property to certain object ("All forms of racism should be prosecuted, therefore this given action also should be prosecuted"). Arguments to definition and from definition can be used together (Douglas Walton called the latter Arguments from Definition to Verbal Classification").

• Definition Premise: A fits definition D.
• Classificatory Premise: For all x, if x fits definition D, then x is classified as having the property G.
• Conclusion: A has the property G.

Argument from Verbal Classification

Persuasive definitions are not the only way of modifying meaning – one may also modify meaning simply by linking two properties together (Douglas Walton calls it a "Verbal classification"), and then attribute a new property to given object ("if something is prosecuted, then it is morally wrong, therefore racism is morally wrong".

• Individual Premise: A possesses some property F.
• Classificatory Premise: For all x, if x possesses property F, then x can be classified as possessing property G.
• Conclusion: A possesses property G.

These are three most common types of semantic arguments. Full typology of semantic arguments includes classification of persuasive definitions (the notion coined by Charles Stevenson) developed by Tadeusz Pawlowski. It also includes classification arguments (also called "attributive arguments").

File:10503 2020 9542 Fig3 HTML.png.webp

In order to assess semantic argument one need to assess semantic modification made in it first. The criteria for assessing such modifications are: transparency of modification, coherence with usage, consequences of modification, authority of modifying party, alternative meanings. Also the individual premise (which attributes the key property to the given object) needs to be evaluated, since sometimes it is the most vulnerable piece of argument.

Examples of Semantic Arguments

1. Let’s finally say what the term ‘racism’ means. It is simply treating people unequally on the basis of their ethnicity. Thus the Democratic Union is a racist party. They seek to introduce an electoral law privileging ethnic minorities!
2. Bribery is about giving somebody something of significant value to make him do something we want. My client just wanted to avoid being called from one police office to another, so he gave the policeman five euros. Let’s be serious—you cannot classify this as ‘bribery’, can you?
3. Democracy is the policy of government that tries to bring morality and politics closer to one another until they coincide.
4. Democracy is the form of government which gives, or tries to give, the people the illusion of their own sovereignty. [F. Macagno & D. Walton's example]
5. Terrorists are bandits who hide behind political, religious or nationalist slogans to try to resolve questions that have nothing to do with what they publicly state [F. Macagno & D. Walton's example].
6. The fetus is a human individual with all the potentialities of every human being, and that its destruction is murder, only justifiable in the most extreme circumstances involving direct and imminent threat to the mother’s life [S.A.Cosgrove & P.A. Carter's example].
7. A legal rule forbids you to take a vehicle into the public park. Plainly this forbids an automobile, but what about bicycles, roller skates, toy automobiles? What about airplanes? Are these, as we say, to be called ‘vehicles’ for the purpose of the rule or not? [H.L.A.Hart's example].

References

• Macagno, Fabrizio, and Douglas Walton. 2008. Persuasive definitions: values, meanings and implicit disagreements. Informal Logic 28 (3): 203–228.
• Pawlowski, Tadeusz. 1980. Concept formation in the humanities and the social sciences. Dordecht: Reidel.
• Stevenson, Charles L. 1938. "Persuasive definitions." Mind 47: 331–350.
• Walton, Douglas. 2001. Persuasive definitions and public policy arguments. Argumentation and Advocacy 37: 117–132.
• Walton, Douglas. 2005. Deceptive arguments containing persuasive language and persuasive definitions. Argumentation 19: 159–186. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10503-005-2312-y.
• Walton, Douglas. 2008. The case of redefining “planet” to exclude Pluto. Informal Logic 28 (2): 129–154.
• Walton, Douglas, Christopher Reed, and Fabrizio Macagno. 2008. Argumentation schemes. New York: Cambridge University Press.