Multimodal argumentation in decision-making process

Abstract

The research is aimed at outlining the relationship between the theory and practice of argumentation and decision theory, as well as to identify the specifics of the modes of multimodal argumentation, which involves the consistent solution of such problems: a) to supplement and clarify the definition of ‘argumentation’ in the context of the application of arguments in the decision-making process; b) to distinguish the semantic field of the terms ‘persuade’ and ‘convince’ in the context of self-argumentation; c) to highlight the role of personal characteristics of the agent in the process of making choice; d) to explore the features of verbal and visual arguments in the decision-making process. The author proceeds from the lack of research on the application of theoretical and argumentative research in the decision-making process. Techniques and methods of argumentation are proposed to be considered through the prism of self-argumentation, where the subject seeks grounds and provides evidence to persuade and convince himself. The actualization of this issue allows to attract the theoretical achievements of the philosophy of action and activity, phenomenology, cognitive and computer sciences in order to expand the field of research and go beyond the defined disciplinary boundaries. A systematic approach was used to consider the theoretical, methodological and source base of the study. A comparative method and an analogy method were used to compare argumentative theories and approaches. The author justified the need to take into account the theoretical and argumentative work in the context of decision theory. Research on the borders of these fields determines the actualization of the problem of human being, as an agent, as the author of his own decisions, on the way to which there is a need for explanation and argumentation. The hypothesis of considering the subject as both the sender and the receiver in the argumentative process was put forward and substantiated, which allowed to raise the issue of self-argumentation. In the process of the latter, the place of different modes of argumentation, in particular verbal and visual, was analyzed, as well as examples of areas of their application. Scientific developments in the field of argumentation differ in their application. The ability to build, analyze and single out arguments allows not only to look retrospectively at the argumentative process and help justify the decision already made, but also to give preference to a certain alternative directly in the situation of choice. The dialogical nature of the argumentative process can be interpreted through the prism of self-argumentation, in the process of which not only verbal but also visual arguments are used. Based on the considered primary sources, it is demonstrated how visualization is incorporated into the decision-making process.