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Stephen E. Toulmin- Philosopher and Educator

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  • Born

    Born March 25, 1922 in London, England
  • The Uses of Argument

    The Uses of Argument is a book written by Stephen Toulmin in which he analyzes the art of arguments. In his book, Toulmin discusses that arguments cannot be analyzed using formal logic and inferences, but instead should be analyzed based on their variables that vary depending on the situation. The book includes Toulmin's six-part argument model.
  • The Toulmin Model of Argument

    The Toulmin Model of Argument
    https://youtu.be/D-YPPQztuOY Stephen Toulmin developed the Model of Argument as a system to analyze or breaking down a persuasive argument. The model has six parts which are claim, evidence, warrant, backing, counterargument/rebuttal, and qualifier. The model can be used to determine if an argument is valid by utilizing critical and creative thinking.
  • Foresight and Understanding

    Stephen Toulmin authored the book titled, "Foresight and Understanding" to inquire into the aim of science. Toulmin argued that when observing science, an all-encompassing scientific method is not useful since science is always evolving. In this book, Toulmin explains that scientist are often consumed with scientific projects, with little regard to philosophy and history, and that the focus should be more on questions such as what is an explanation and what makes a theory scientific.
  • Human Understanding

    Toulmin published "Human Understanding" in 1972 as a response to "The Structure of Scientific Revolution" by Thomas Kuhn in 1962. Thomas Kuhn theorized that significant change was the revolutionary result of a paradigm shift. In contrast to Kuhn's theory, Toulmin argued that change occurred evolutionarily, as evolution is the very nature of science.
  • Deceased

    Died December 04, 2009 in Los Angeles, California
  • Work Cited

    Toulim, Stephen Edelston. The Uses of Argument. Cambridge University Press, 1958. Toulmin, Stephen Edelston. Foresight and Understanding an Enquiry into the Aims of Science. Harper & Row, 1961. Toulmin, Stephen. Human Understanding. Oxford University Press, 1972.