<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This paper combines methods of argumentation theory and artificial intelligence to extend existing work on the dialectical structure of crossexamination. The existing method used conflict diagrams to search for inconsistent statements in the testimony of a witness. This paper extends the method by using the inconsistency of commitments to draw an inference by the ad hominem argumentation scheme to the conclusion that the testimony is unreliable because of the bad ethical character for veracity of the witness.</p></abstract>

This paper combines methods of argumentation theory and artificial intelligence to extend existing work on the dialectical structure of crossexamination. The existing method used conflict diagrams to search for inconsistent statements in the testimony of a witness. This paper extends the method by using the inconsistency of commitments to draw an inference by the ad hominem argumentation scheme to the conclusion that the testimony is unreliable because of the bad ethical character for veracity of the witness.

Witness Impeachment in Cross-Examination Using Ad Hominem Argumentation

Studies in Logic, Grammar and Rhetoric

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

{"article-title":"Witness Impeachment in Cross-Examination Using Ad Hominem Argumentation"}

This paper combines methods of argumentation theory and artificial intelligence to extend existing work on the dialectical structure of crossexamination. The...

Witness Impeachment in Cross-Examination Using Ad Hominem Argumentation

Published Online: Dec 06, 2018

Page range: 93 - 114

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/slgr-2018-0030

Keywords
legal argumentation, character attack, legal analytics, artificial intelligence and law

© 2018 Douglas Walton, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Witness Impeachment in Cross-Examination Using Ad Hominem Argumentation

Published Online: Dec 06, 2018

Page range: 93 - 114

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/slgr-2018-0030

Keywordslegal argumentation, character attack, legal analytics, artificial intelligence and law

© 2018 Douglas Walton, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
legal argumentation, character attack, legal analytics, artificial intelligence and law