Using Virgil to Analyze Public Policy Arguments: A System Based on Toulmin's Informal Logic

Abstract

Public policy analysis has begun to adopt methods designed for the study of argumen tative logic. The most prominent approach, however, that of Stephen Toulmin, cannot be used to study policy arguments of realistic complexity. Toulmin's model becomes useful only when extended in specific ways and implemented in a computerized appli cation. I describe a program ( Virgil) that provides an easily expandable framework for applying Toulmin's model to policy arguments and for further articulating the model itself. Keywords: public policy analysis, argumentation, logic, Toulmin, HyperCard, hypertext.