STEPHEN TOULMINBy Hana Ayele

Stephen Toulmin

Born on March 25, 1922 Attended King’s College

1942: received Bachelors of Art Degree in math and physics

King’s College

During WWII, Toulmin worked at Ministry of Aircraft Production

Junior scientific officer At one point, worked in Germany at Supreme

Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Force

After war, returned to England and attended Cambridge

Cambridge

At Cambridge: Master of Arts degree (1947) Doctorate of Philosophy

Meets Ludwig Wittgenstein Austrian philosopher Examined the connection between the uses and the meanings of language

Had a great effect on Toulmin’s workLudwig Wittgenstein

Teaching Career

After graduating from Cambridge, he was appointed University Lecturer in Philosophy of Science at Oxford (1949-54)

Wrote The Philosophy of Science: an Introduction (1953)

Professor of History & Philosophy of Science at Melbourne University, Australia (1954-55)

Professor & Chair of Department of Philosophy at University of Leeds (1955-59)

Publishes The Uses of Argument

The Uses of Argument

Published in 1958 Discussed the problems of traditional

logic Criticized in England as “Toulmin’s anti-

logic book” Well received in U.S.

Visits Stanford and Columbia Universities While in America, his work is introduced to many communication scholars

1960- returns to London as Director of History of Ideas at Nuffield Foundation

1965- returns to America Holds positions at several different universities Continues to teach at universities throughout

America and England Including: Columbia, Dartmouth, Michigan State,

Northwestern, Stanford, and the University of Chicago

Ideas

Fundamental concern: clarify nature of moral reasoning and the logic that accompanies it

Ethics should attempt to discover good moral arguments

Moral reasoning is inductive Moral philosophers

Absolutism has little practical value Introduce reason into moral judgements

Contributions

Helped advance the shift from formal, technical logics to more informal, rhetorical logics

His works have helped people better understand the complex natures of human language and rationality

Popular Works

The Uses of Argument- 1958 Philosophy of Science- 1953 Foresight and Understanding- 1960 Discovery of Time – 1965 Wittgenstein’s Vienna- 1973 Knowing and Acting- 1976 The Abuse of Casuistry: A History of Moral

Reasoning- 1990 Return to Reason - 2001

Quiz

During WWII, in what department did Toulmin work?

What was the name of the Austrian philosopher who had a great influence on Toulmin?

True or False: Toulmin Helped advance a more formal, technical logic?

Answers

During WWII, Toulmin worked at Ministry of Aircraft Production as a junior scientific officer.

Ludwig Wittgenstein had a great influence on Toulmin.

False: Toulming helped advance the shift from formal, technical logics to more informal, rhetorical logics