Stephen Toulmin was a British philosopher who developed the Toulmin model for argument analysis. The Toulmin model examines arguments based on their claim, grounds, and warrant. It aims to provide a more practical framework compared to traditional syllogisms. The model identifies the claim as the conclusion being advanced, grounds as the data or evidence used to support the claim, and warrant as the justification for why the grounds support the claim. It also includes optional elements like backing, rebuttal, and qualifier.

1. Examining the
Structural Core of an Argument
The Toulmin Model

2. Stephen Edelston Toulmin
(25 March 1922 – 4 December 2009)
● 1947, PhD, Philosophy, Cambridge University
● Oxford University, Melbourne University, University of
Leeds, University of California, Santa Cruz, University of
Chicago, La Salle University, Columbia, Dartmouth,
Michigan State, Northwestern, Stanford, the University of
Chicago, and the University of Southern California School
of International Relations.
● An Examination of the Place of Reason in Ethics (1950),
An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science (1953), The
Uses of Argument (1958) 2nd edition 2003, Metaphysical
Beliefs, Three Essays (1957) with Ronald W. Hepburn and
Alasdair MacIntyre, The Riviera (1961), Seventeenth
century science and the arts (1961), Foresight and
Understanding: An Enquiry into the Aims of Science
(1961), The Architecture of Matter (1962) with June
Goodfield, The Fabric of the Heavens: The Development
of Astronomy and Dynamics (1963) with June Goodfield,
Night Sky at Rhodes (1963), The Discovery of Time (1966)
with June Goodfield, Physical Reality (1970), Human
Understanding: The Collective Use and Evolution of
Concepts (1972), Wittgenstein's Vienna (1972) with Allan
Janik, Knowing and Acting: An Invitation to Philosophy
(1976), An Introduction to Reasoning (1979) with Allan
Janik and Richard D. Rieke 2nd edition 199, The Return to
Cosmology: Postmodern Science and the Theology of
Nature (1985), The Abuse of Casuistry: A History of Moral
Reasoning (1988) with Albert R. Jonsen, Cosmopolis: The
Hidden Agenda of Modernity (1990), Social Impact of AIDS
in the United States (1993) with Albert R. Jonsen, Beyond
theory - changing organizations through participation
(1996) with Björn Gustavsen (editors), Return to Reason
(2001)

3. The Syllogism
● Major Premise
● Minor Premise
● Conclusion

4. All men are Socrates is
mortal a man
Socrates is
mortal

5. Toulmin's Criticism
● Doesn't describe
everyday arguments.
● Too redundant

6. Toulmin Model
● Necessary elements ● Optional elements
● Claim ● Backing
● Grounds ● Rebuttal
● Warrant ● Qualifier

7. Claim
●
A single statement, ●
“We should abolish
advanced with support, executions as a form of
which seeks to gain the punishment”
adherence of an
audience.

8. Grounds
●
The examples, analysis, ●
“Executions prevent
and/or evidence that individuals from arguing
supports the claim their innocence.”

9. Warrant
●
“The reason or logic ●
“We should abolish
behind using the forms of punishment
grounds to support the that prevent individuals
claim.” from arguing their
●
Could be implied innocence.”

10. Executions We should
prevent abolish
individuals executions as a
from arguing form of
their punishment
innocence
We should
abolish forms of
punishment
that prevent
individuals from
arguing their
innocence