The Virtue Approach to Argument

Virtues (and vices) are persistent dispositions of character. Virtue theories of argument posit that such dispositions are at least necessary (and perhaps sufficient) for a complete account of argumentation. This chapter provides an overview of the most prominent versions of this approach and of the objections of its leading critics; identifies the parties to whom such virtues should be ascribed; and briefly discusses what we may call the cardinal virtues of argumentation: willingness to engage in argumentation, willingness to listen to others, willingness to modify one's own position, and willingness to question the obvious.