How Many Premises Can an Argument Have?

Abstract

Is it possible for an argument to have either zero premises or an infinite number of premises? I shall argue that regardless of how you conceive of arguments you should accept that an argument could have an infinite number of premises. The zero case is more complicated since the matter seems to depend not only on the metaphysics of arguments, but also the nature and function of arguing. I shall argue that at least a plausible case can be made for the possibility of zero premise arguments.

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

5-18-2011

Publisher Statement

Copyright © 2011, Ontario Society for the Study of Argumentation. This article first appeared in Proceedings of the 9th OSSA Conference: Argumentation: Cognition & Community (2011).

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