What are the three goals of arguments?

What are the three goals of arguments?

• A. To persuade, to entertain, to inform
• B. To persuade, to justify, to discover
• C. To clarify, to argue, to compromise
• D. To convince, to confront, to analyze

Answer: (B)

Focusing on the goals of arguments, the correct answer highlights three critical purposes: to persuade, to justify, and to discover. Persuasion is a central aim of many arguments, especially in advocacy and debate contexts, where the speaker or writer seeks to convince an audience of a particular viewpoint or action. Justification plays a key role as well, as arguments often involve providing reasons or evidence to support a claim, making it important for establishing credibility and rationality. Lastly, discovery refers to the process of exploring ideas, uncovering truths, and engaging in dialogue that can lead to new insights or understanding. This goal emphasizes the role of arguments not just as tools for winning debating points, but as avenues for learning and exchanging different perspectives. The other choices, while they contain elements related to communication and discourse, do not encapsulate the primary, foundational goals of arguments as effectively. For instance, entertainment, while a possible outcome of some arguments, is not a fundamental goal in serious discourse. Similarly, clarity and compromise, though useful in discussions, do not represent the core objectives of constructing an argument in the context of debate and advocacy.

Focusing on the goals of arguments, the correct answer highlights three critical purposes: to persuade, to justify, and to discover.

Persuasion is a central aim of many arguments, especially in advocacy and debate contexts, where the speaker or writer seeks to convince an audience of a particular viewpoint or action. Justification plays a key role as well, as arguments often involve providing reasons or evidence to support a claim, making it important for establishing credibility and rationality. Lastly, discovery refers to the process of exploring ideas, uncovering truths, and engaging in dialogue that can lead to new insights or understanding. This goal emphasizes the role of arguments not just as tools for winning debating points, but as avenues for learning and exchanging different perspectives.

The other choices, while they contain elements related to communication and discourse, do not encapsulate the primary, foundational goals of arguments as effectively. For instance, entertainment, while a possible outcome of some arguments, is not a fundamental goal in serious discourse. Similarly, clarity and compromise, though useful in discussions, do not represent the core objectives of constructing an argument in the context of debate and advocacy.