VII—Can arguments change minds?

Catarina Dutilh Novaes*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Can arguments change minds? Philosophers like to think that they can. However, a wealth of empirical evidence suggests that arguments are not very efficient tools to change minds. What to make of the different assessments of the mind-changing potential of arguments? To address this issue, we must take into account the broader contexts in which arguments occur, in particular the propagation of messages across networks of attention, and the choices that epistemic agents must make between alternative potential sources of content and information, which are very much influenced by perceptions of reliability and trustworthiness. Arguments can change minds, but only under conducive, favourable socio-epistemic conditions.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)173-198
Number of pages26
JournalProceedings of the Aristotelian Society
Volume123
Issue number2
Early online date26 Jun 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 17 Jul 2023

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