Is critical argumentation an effective way to overcome disagreement? And does the exchange of arguments bring opponents in a controversy closer to the truth? This study provides a new perspective on these pivotal questions. By means of multi-agent simulations, it investigates the truth and consensus-conduciveness of controversial debates. The book brings together research in formal epistemology and argumentation theory. Aside from its consequences for discursive practice, the work may have important implications for philosophy of science and the way we construe scientific rationality as well.

Is critical argumentation an effective way to overcome disagreement? And does the exchange of arguments bring opponents in a controversy closer to the truth? This study provides a new perspective on these pivotal questions. By means of multi-agent simulations, it investigates the truth and consensus-conduciveness of controversial debates. The book brings together research in formal epistemology and argumentation theory. Aside from its consequences for discursive practice, the work may have important implications for philosophy of science and the way we construe scientific rationality as well.

Gregor Betz explores the following questions: Where are the limits of economics, in particular the limits of economic foreknowledge? Are macroeconomic forecasts credible predictions or mere prophecies and what would this imply for the way economic policy decisions are taken? Is rational economic decision making possible without forecasting at all?

Im Jahr 2010 fand im Ruhrgebiet "das" Kulturereignis Europas im fruhen 21. Jahrhundert statt: die Kulturhauptstadt Europas RUHR.2010 . An dessen Planung und Durchfuhrung war eine unuberschaubare Zahl von Akteuren uber einen langen Zeitraum hinweg zu unterschiedlichen Zeiten an unterschiedlichen Orten in mannigfaltigen Konstellationen beteiligt, die dabei mit multiplen Taktiken und Strategien (zumindest auch) ihre Sonder- und Eigeninteressen verfolgten. Das zentrale Erkenntnisinteresse der hier vorgelegten ethnografischen Studie lautet, wie dieses hochkomplexe Ereignis so organisiert werden konnte, dass es am Ende doch klappte . Genauer gefragt: Welche Handlungsprobleme wurden dabei insbesondere von den Mitarbeitern der zum Zweck des Mega-Event-Machens gegrundeten Sonderorganisation auf Zeit der RUHR.2010 GmbH wie bewaltigt?"

When we philosophize we create arguments. This collection brings together essays on the theory of argumentation, epistemology, the philosophy of science, existential philosophy, the philosophy of religion, and metaphilosophy, the core areas of interest of the philosopher Holm Tetens. The essays demonstrate that even highly theoretical questions can be of importance to everyday life.