Chaim Perelman

"The Social Contexts of Argumentation"

Chaim Perelman (252-256)

 

Chaim Perelman analyzes the historical process and distinction of argumentation from demonstration.  He explains that argumentation is dependent on the audiences and their expectations.  As readers, the claim and argument will not be effective for ALL.  Therefore, Perelman says that there is no way for an argumentation to be universally applied to all audiences.  His biggest truth is “that universal audience which is then not a concrete social reality but a construction of the speaker based on elements in his experience” (253).  The rhetoricians are assuming the audiences merely based on presumptions and experiences of their own. 

If thinking about teaching Comp 120 classes, we emphasize the five factors in writing as a method to write “better” in a way that they understand their purpose, audience, etc.  We provide students with an audience for most of the assignments, and they most likely will know their audiences at future jobs or careers.  Sometimes this is easier said than done (or written/spoken).  As Perelman discusses, if there is no universal audience, then this presents a conflict for society.  How are we to classify the audience to one “group” or societal classification of what constitutes that “group” or “norm.”  We can write in hopes to reach most people, but it will not be a universal effect.  In order for a writer to successfully argue a thesis, he/she must consider the whole configuration of the audience.  The writer must be prepared for a mixed audience and not the typical approach to assume the audience as one whole (generalizations). 

Perelman continues to discuss that argumentation relies on the ideas of facts and truths, or the validity of the information provided allows the audience to be persuaded.  People want truth over opinions (255).  Perelman concludes with a look into the history of rhetoric as “More and more, discourse, instead of convincing, was required primarily to please, and rhetoric ceased to be a philosophical technique and became a literary method” (255).  Over the course of time, we have discovered that writing is more complex than the simple write to an audience about this topic.  We have to consider all sociological and the context of the audiences and situations in order to effectively write.