Abstract

This paper justifies the need for argumentative dialogues in groups to resolve ethical dilemmas. Examining earlier work on argumentative dialogues, further evidence has been added to explain the process. A decision on an ethical dilemma during argumentative dialogue depends on: the dissemination of arguments related to facts, value judgements and reflective world-views to group members; access to new argu ments; and persuasive and self-generated arguments that favour a choice. For effective argumentative dialogues in a group, ethical imperatives are derived for: group composition; exchange of reasoned dialogues; and behaviour of group members. Differences between argumentative dialogues and group discussions are specified, and the superiority of the former process over the latter is stated.