Legal Argumentation and Evidence

Legal Argumentation and Evidence Volume 1 examines the mechanics of reasoning within trials and various legal contexts. Author Douglas Walton applies informal logic and argumentation theory to the law of evidence, utilizing models often found in artificial intelligence. This work focuses on identifying and evaluating specific legal arguments through a framework that views legal proceedings as goal-directed conversations.

This law and philosophy text moves beyond traditional deductive and inductive logic to offer a broader perspective on reasonable legal argumentation. By treating legal discourse as a dynamic process, the book redefines relevance and probative weight. It emphasizes pragmatic criteria for plausible evidence over absolute truth, providing a rigorous methodology for trial practice and logic.