Argument

Argument. In Kolb's construction, in his central question, philosophical method depends upon argument, exists only as argument. His essay explores the ways hypertext can be used both to reveal and exapnd upon traditional linear arguments. Hypertext can, for example, be linear, follow a distinct path, one link leading to a new space as determined as the progress made by following paragraphs in a book. True, hypertext might complicate this by allowing different choices from each space, more than one link to choose from, like a road which keeps forking, but the traveler's sense of it will be straight forward.

Kolb puts it this way in a space titled "args linear:"

For expository convenience the parts of the argument may come in any order, but the argument will be present only when the underlying linear structure is somehow indicated. Also, some arguments have multiple beginnings and branches that jointly support conclusions or diverge from premises, but these still have at base a unidirectional structure of beginnings, middles, and ends. Truth be told, "Socrates in the Labryrinth," explores the diffferent ways a hypertext can structure an argument, but does so in a way where, even though the structure is indicated, explained, and examined, the argument is present, yet not quite fixable, where its always in a state of being mediated by the reader.

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Address your comments to Nick Carbone at nickc@marlboro.edu