Counterargument

Counterargument on Graham's Hierarchy of Disagreement

In reasoning and argument mapping, a counterargument is an objection to an objection. A counterargument can be used to rebut an objection to a premise, a main contention or a lemma. Synonyms of counterargument may include rebuttal, reply, counterstatement, counterreason, comeback and response. The attempt to rebut an argument may involve generating a counterargument or finding a counterexample.^[1]

To speak of counterarguments is not to assume that there are only two sides to a given issue nor that there is only one type of counterargument.^[2] For a given argument, there are often a large number of counterarguments, some of which are not compatible with each other.^[2]

A counterargument might seek to cast doubt on facts of one or more of the first argument's premises, 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 that the truth of a conclusion is incompatible with that of the first argument.

Speech

In a debate or in a speaking context, a counterargument can be handled in a variety of ways.^[3]

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.^[3]

See also

• Inference objection

Notes

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

References

• Rahwan, Iyad and Pavlos Moraitis. (2009). Argumentation in Multi-Agent Systems. Berlin: Springer. ISBN 9783642002069; OCLC 496892202
• Sprague, Jo and Douglas Stuart. (2008). The Speaker's Handbook. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. 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. ISBN 9780872075573; OCLC 300267606

External links

• Harvey, Gordon: "Counter-Argument", adapted from The Academic Essay: A Brief Anatomy, The Writing Center, Harvard College