Chaim Perelman

Chaim Perelman was a Belgian philosopher and legal scholar known for his work on argumentation and persuasion. He developed the theory of "new rhetoric," emphasizing that effective arguments depend on context, audience, and shared values rather than fixed rules. Perelman believed that persuasive communication involves adapting reasoning to convince particular audiences, focusing on practical judgment ("common sense") rather than strict logical formulas. His ideas have influenced fields like law, rhetoric, and ethics, highlighting that how we argue matters as much as what we argue, fostering more nuanced, context-sensitive understanding of persuasive discourse.