Negative Oppositions in Argumentation

The role of negation in the structural organization of argument schemes is here analyzed within the theoretical framework of the Argumentum Model of Topics (AMT), an approach to argument schemes capable of eliciting the inferential as well as the endoxical components of argumentative moves. In outlining the ontologico-semantic organization of the argumentative moves structured on negative oppositions, the paper shows the relevance of an in-depth semantic analysis for the individuation of the inferential connections activated by arguments, as well as for the identification of the conditions to be met for their valid or fallacious use.