Relevance and digressions in argumentative discussion: A pragmatic approach

• DOI: 10.1007/bf00154323
• Publication Date: 2004-11-06T05:26:44Z
• Authors: Scott Jacobs; Sally Jackson
• Keywords: Argumentative; Relevance; Phenomenon; Relevance theory

Digressions in argumentative discussion are a kind of failure of relevance. Examination of what actual cases look like reveals several properties of argumentative relevance: (1) The informational relevance of propositions to the truth value of a conclusion should be distinguished from the pragmatic relevance of argumentative acts to the task of resolving a disagreement. (2) Pragmatic irrelevance is a collaborative phenomenon. It does not just short-circuit reasoning; it encourages a failure to take up the demands of an argumentative task. (3) Pragmatic irrelevance can occur not simply by the absence of a connection between what is said and some standpoint in dispute, but also by the presence of a connection between what is said and a competing use of the information. (4) Pragmatic relevance must be accomplished through communicative action.