The Epistemological Theory of Argument--How and Why?

The article outlines a general epistemological theory of argument: a theory that regards providingjustified belief as theprincipal aim of argumentation, and defends it instrumentalistically. After introducing some central terms of such a theory (2), answers to its central questions areproposed: the primary object and structure of the theory (3), the function of arguments, which is to lead to justified belief (4), the way such arguments function, which is toguide the addressee's cognizing (5), objective versus subjective aspects of argumentation (6), designing different types of argument (7). Then the notion of '(argumentatively)valid argument' is defined and criteria for the adequate use of such arguments are introduced (8). Finally, this conception is justified as, among others, leading to moretrue beliefs than competing conceptions (9).