Argues that the unconscious mind plays a central role in argumentation. Discusses the nature of the unconscious and analyzes invention, focusing on rules theory. Claims that argument reception is controlled by the unconscious. Identifies a series of basic issues needing investigation. (JD)

Because cognition is inherently inaccessible to observers, researchers interested in cognitive approaches to argumentation frequently rely on self-reports for data. Opponents to self-reports argue that such data have very limited value. They claim that when subjects are put in a position where they have to tell more than they can know, they…