Pacisco is a web-based system for collaboratively recording and evaluating arguments. Details of arguments in support of and against a particular policy/theory/position/etc. are cast into a predefined structure. This can be done collaboratively by interested parties who register to use the system.  Element of the argument can be evaluated by each registered user and assigned a plausibility rating, these evaluations being combined to indicate the relative strengths of different supporting and rebutting cases.

The discipline of analysing an argument into the prescribed structure helps to clarify the issues. That it can be worked on collaboratively helps ensure that it is thoroughly explored. The evaluation process helps to identify the strongest support and rebuttal.* Element of argument can be reused in the creation of new linked arguments.

The argument structure used by Pacisco is based on that described by the philosopher Stephen Toulmin.  Pacisco implements a variation of Toulmin’s structure that enables linked chains of argumentation.

In Pacisco an argument is structured as:

• A claim; the conclusion of the argument.
  • Claims are expressed as a simple proposition, i.e. a statement that expresses a truth.
• One or more cases; statements that support or rebut the claim.
  • Cases can be of two types: assertion or intermediate.
    • Assertion cases terminate the decomposition of an argument by making:
      • a statement that the claim is self-evidently true or false
      • a statement that the claim is an established fact (within the domain of discussion)
    • Intermediate cases are steps in a chain of argument between the evidence and the claim. They consist of:
      • grounds; the data or evidence in support of the argument’s claim consisting of one or more other claims.  If more than one then the claims are linked by logical operators.
      • warrant; a claim giving a justification of the relevance of the grounds to the argument’s claim, generally in the form of a rule.

Current State of Development

The existing version of Pacisco is an early functional prototype.  It supports the functionality described above, but will have bugs and deficiencies.

The design of the interface and the supported functionality is subject to development. It will be altered in the light of experience gained in use.

Bugs and issues can be reported to the developer as they occur by clicking the ‘Report Bug’ button in the control bar at the top of the window.  Please do not hold back from using this.  Your feedback will be crucial to ensure Pacisco is actually useful.

*These are expectations; to be confirmed or refuted by experience.