9781305867819 💯

The defining characteristic of the Rieke, Sillars, and Peterson approach is the shift in focus from the argument to the decision . In a traditional debate setting, success is measured by the persuasion of a judge. In critical decision making, success is measured by the quality and efficacy of the resulting action.

The burden of proof, conversely, falls upon the person advocating for change. This dynamic is crucial for critical decision making. It prevents anarchy by ensuring that stability is only disrupted when there is a compelling reason to do so. Rieke et al. emphasize that the burden of proof is not static; it shifts based on the severity of the proposed change and the nature of the audience. Understanding this dynamic allows an arguer to structure their case effectively, ensuring that the evidence provided is sufficient to overturn the inherent weight of the status quo. 9781305867819

A significant portion of the text is dedicated to the role of the audience. In the framework of critical decision making, the audience is the ultimate arbiter of an argument's success. However, the authors warn against a purely relativistic approach where truth is determined solely by popular opinion. Instead, they introduce the concept of the "universal audience"—a theoretical construct representing reasonable people everywhere—as a standard for testing the validity of arguments. The defining characteristic of the Rieke, Sillars, and