Microsoft Word - From the Editors.docx


 

From the Editors 
 

A full understanding of argumentation must consider the various 
modes in which it is communicated. That thesis, put forward in 
“Multi-modal argumentation” (Gilbert 1994), and developed within 
the parameters of informal logic in Coalescent argumentation (Gil-
bert 1997), announced the theory of multi-modal argumentation 
(with the hyphen). Since then, through many publications and con-
ference presentations, Michael Gilbert has promoted the theory in 
the marketplace of ideas, exploring such modes as the visceral and 
the kisceral, and most forcefully, the emotional. Some scholars have 
obliged by examining his wares, measuring them for fit with other 
theories, and occasionally going so far as to try them on for size. 
But a widescale adoption of Gilbert’s ideas has failed to materialize. 
Confusion with discussions of multimodal argumentation (without 
the hyphen) that developed around the same time did not help. But 
there also seems to have been a larger hesitancy to endorse a theory 
that advances intuitions or gestures as reasonable support for claims. 
     In this context, the Summer Institute held after the Ontario Soci-
ety for the Study of Argumentation (OSSA) Conference in 2020 
took multi-modal argumentation as its theme. The current Special 
Issue results from some of the ensuing discussions. Each contributor 
was involved in the Institute, several as instructors. And now we are 
pleased to present a collection of papers arising from that event. 
     In the issue, Michael Gilbert first considers the history and de-
velopment of his theory before Leo Groarke helpfully clarifies the 
differences and affinities between multi-modal and multimodal ar-
gumentation. Then, each of Gilbert’s modes is explored in a sepa-
rate critical study, with David Godden attending to the logical mode, 
Linda Carroza to the emotional, Claudio Duran the visceral, and 
Christopher Tindale the kisceral. A final paper by Marko Novak ap-
plies the theory (particularly the kisceral mode) to the field of law. 
 Together, these papers offer readers an opportunity to review the 
range of ideas associated with Gilbert’s model, and set the grounds 
for continuing research on this important theory. 
  



486  
  

References 
Gilbert, Michael A. 1994. Multi-modal argumentation. Philosophy of the 

Social Sciences. 24(2): 159-77. 
Gilbert, Michael A. .1997. Coalescent argumentation. Mahwah, NJ: Law-

rence Erlbaum Associates.