Stories and Arguments

Abstract

Experience can be organised in various ways, for example, in the form of stories or arguments. This paper defends that at least these two forms possess irreductible functions of their own. First, six differences between stories and arguments are discussed (in contrast with arguments, stories possess: “nearness” to experience, relative singularity, intrinsic criteria of evaluation, lack of connection between form and truth, variety of functions, and open structure). Afterwards, three common meta-properties are discussed (both discursive forms intermingle constantly, both establish places of dispute and of cooperation, both are instruments of diversity). When is one or the other discursive form to be used? There are no precise, fixed and general criteria to decide. With respect to this, each speaker depends on his or her capacity of judgment.