Abstract

According to the different aims of argument in legal activities, this paper argues that legal argument can be divided into dogmatic argument, dialectical argument and normative argument and so on. Dogmatic argument is the fundamental argument among the three kinds of arguments; it provides the theoretical foundation the other two. Normative argument is the terminal of the other two arguments, because its application can provide sound rules to protect citizen’s rightful interests, settle conflicts and disputes for a stable society. Dialectical argument is a link between dogmatic argument and normative argument. These three arguments have formed a complete system of legal argument. In this system, there is a great diversity of the evaluation norms for argument, because the claims and pleadings of argument are various in legal practices.