The programme leading to a Master of Arts degree in Wijsbegeerte (Philosophy), specialization Discourse and Argumentation Studies, aims to provide the student with a solid theoretical and methodological foundation for understanding the use of language. The main focus is on the use of language for informative and argumentative purposes, but it extends to other purposes in a variety of contexts. The programme presents an overview of recent descriptive and normative research in language use, covering a broad range of topics. These include conversational analysis, style, classical and modern rhetoric, informal logic, fallacies and juridical and conversational argument. The programme has several objectives. First, the programme aims to provide the student with a general introduction to the field of discourse and argumentation studies and to give the student the opportunity to obtain practical experience in descriptive and normative analysis of argumentative discourse. Building upon this background, the programme aims to provide the student with more specialised and profound knowledge and insight in the fields of discourse analysis and argumentation theory. Finally, the programme aims to provide the student with the tools necessary for independently evaluating and carrying out research in these fields.
