Article published In:
Journal of Argumentation in ContextVol. 5:2 (2016) ► pp.172–190
“Death penalty for Down’s syndrome”
Polish cultural symbols in discussion about In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
In axiological argumentation that refers to issues concerning matters of ethics, politics, or aesthetics, a warrant is derived from a general axiological base, which consists of propositions that are accepted by a particular social group. Such a warrant is supported by ideology, understood as a relatively well organised set of evaluative propositions (justified within frames of the given system). In axiological argumentation beliefs are represented by cultural objects that serve as the arguments. Cultural objects are universals, which have a culturally developed interpretation. Without proper recognition of the interpretant, the correct reading of the sign and its appraisal is impossible. The main purpose of this article is to show how ideological objects constitute the base of the discourse. In analysis of chosen texts I will demonstrate, how at every stage of argumentation arguers exploit the topic and interactive potential of argumentation.
Keywords: axiological argumentation, IVF, collective symbols, cultural objects, ideology
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