The Shift from Logic to Dialectic in Argumentation Theory: Implications for Computational Argument Quality Assessment

Rositsa V Ivanova, Reto Gubelmann


Abstract
In the field of computational argument quality assessment, logic and dialectic are essential dimensions used to measure the quality of argumentative texts. Both of them have found their way into the field due to their importance to argumentation theory. We trace the development of core logical concepts of validity and soundness from their first use in argumentation theory to their understanding in state-of-the-art research. We show how, in the course of this development, dialectical considerations have taken center stage, at the cost of the logical perspective. Then, we take a closer look at the quality dimensions used in the field of computational argument quality assessment. Based on an analysis of prior empirical work in this field, we show how methodological considerations from argument theory can benefit state-of-the-art methods in computational argument quality assessment. We propose an even clearer separation between the two quality dimensions not only in regards to their definitions, but also in regards to the granularity at which the argumentative text is being annotated and assessed.
Anthology ID:
2025.coling-main.321
Volume:
Proceedings of the 31st International Conference on Computational Linguistics
Month:
January
Year:
2025
Address:
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Editors:
Owen Rambow, Leo Wanner, Marianna Apidianaki, Hend Al-Khalifa, Barbara Di Eugenio, Steven Schockaert
Venue:
COLING
SIG:
Publisher:
Association for Computational Linguistics
Note:
Pages:
4789–4802
Language:
URL:
https://aclanthology.org/2025.coling-main.321/
DOI:
Bibkey:
Cite (ACL):
Rositsa V Ivanova and Reto Gubelmann. 2025. The Shift from Logic to Dialectic in Argumentation Theory: Implications for Computational Argument Quality Assessment. In Proceedings of the 31st International Conference on Computational Linguistics, pages 4789–4802, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Association for Computational Linguistics.
Cite (Informal):
The Shift from Logic to Dialectic in Argumentation Theory: Implications for Computational Argument Quality Assessment (Ivanova & Gubelmann, COLING 2025)
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https://aclanthology.org/2025.coling-main.321.pdf