Counterargument

In reasoning and argument mapping, a counterargument, also known as a rebuttal, is an objection to an objection. A counterargument can be used to rebut an objection to a premise, a main contention or a lemma. Other synonyms for such opposing reasons are counter-reasons or concessions.^[1]

A counterargument might seek to cast doubt on facts of one or more of the first argument's premises, or to show that the first argument's contention does not follow from its premises in a valid manner, or the counterargument might pay little attention to the premises and common structure of the first argument and simply attempt to demonstrate the truth of a conclusion incompatible with that of the first argument.

Writing

To speak of counterarguments is not to assume that there are only two sides to a given issue nor that there is only one types of counter-argument.^[1]

Table: Parsing multiple counter-arguments[1]
Counterargument 1		Counterargument 2		Counterargument 3
.		.		.

Support Statement	Type		Support Statement	Type		Support Statement	Type
.	.		.	.		.	.

Response 1		Response 2		Response 3
.		.		.

For a given argument, there is often a large number of counterarguments, some of which are not compatible with each other.

Speech

In a debate or in a speaking context, a counter-argument can be handled in a variety of ways.^[2]

Responding to a counterargument does not mean utterly obliterating it. You may concede it, minimize it, dismiss it as irrelevant, or attack the supporting evidence or underlying premise. Even if you grant the existence of a problem, you can differ from your audience on the best solution.^[2]

Counterexample

The attempt to rebut an argument may involve generating a counter-argument or finding a counter-example.^[3]

See also

• Rebuttal, for the legal concept
• Inference objection

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c} Zwiers, Jeff. (2008). Developing Academic Thinking Skills in Grades 6-12, p. 111. at Google Books
2. ^ ^{a b} Sprague, Jo et al. (2008). The Speaker's Handbook, p. 326. at Google Books
3. ^ Rahwan, Iyad et al. (2009). Argumentation in Multi-Agent Systems, p. 186. at Google Books

References

• Rahwan, Iyad and Pavlos Moraitis. (2009). Argumentation in Multi-Agent Systems. Berlin: Springer. 10-ISBN 3642002064/13-ISBN 9783642002069; OCLC 496892202
• Sprague, Jo and Douglas Stuart. (2008). The Speaker's Handbook. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. 10-ISBN 0155831755/13-ISBN 9780155831759; OCLC 10795362
• Zwiers, Jeff. (2004). Developing Academic Thinking Skills in Grades 6-12: a Handbook of Multiple Intelligence Activities. Newark, Delaware: International Reading Association. 10-ISBN 0872075575/13-ISBN 9780872075573; OCLC 300267606

External links

• Harvard, counter-argument

This logic-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Informal arguments Logic stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР? Chesney Hawkes Cameron Pass (Colorado) Look at other dictionaries: counterargument — I noun answer, audi alteram partem, challenge, confutation, contradiction, contraremonstrance, contravention, controversion, counteraccusation, countercharge, counterclaim, counterprotest, counterreply, counterstatement, defense, denial, disproof …   Law dictionary counterargument — 1862, from COUNTER (Cf. counter ) + ARGUMENT (Cf. argument) …   Etymology dictionary counterargument — [kount′ər är΄gyo͞o mənt] n. an argument, or a reason or line of reasoning, given in opposition to another argument …   English World dictionary counterargument — /kown teuhr ahr gyeuh meuhnt/, n. a contrasting, opposing, or refuting argument. [1860 65; COUNTER + ARGUMENT] * * * …   Universalium counterargument — noun An argument that is opposed to another argument …   Wiktionary counterargument — coun•ter•ar•gu•ment [[t]ˈkaʊn tərˌɑr gyə mənt[/t]] n. a contrasting, opposing, or refuting argument • Etymology: 1860–65 …   From formal English to slang counterargument — /ˈkaʊntəagjəmənt/ (say kowntuhahgyuhmuhnt) noun an opposing argument …   counterargument — noun an argument offered in opposition to another argument • Hypernyms: ↑argument, ↑statement * * * “+ noun Etymology: counter + argument : an opposing or answering argument * * * /kown teuhr ahr gyeuh meuhnt/, n. a contrasting, opposing, or… …   Useful english dictionary Pre-Greek substrate — The term Pre Greek substrate refers to an unknown language that is conjectured to have been spoken in prehistoric Greece before the settlement of Greek speakers in the area. It is believed by some linguists that Greek took over a large number of… …   Wikipedia Charter school (New York) — Main article: Charter school See also: Education in New York This article is mainly about characteristics specific to those charter schools that are in New York State. Contents 1 Authorizers 2 Governing state law …   Wikipedia 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”