This open access book addresses communicative aspects of the current COVID-19 pandemic as well
as the epidemic of misinformation from the perspective of argumentation theory. Argumentation
theory is uniquely placed to understand and account for the challenges of public reason as
expressed through argumentative discourse. The book thus focuses on the extent to which the
forms norms and functions of public argumentation have changed in the face of the COVID-19
pandemic. This question is investigated along the three main research lines of the COST Action
project CA 17132: European network for Argumentation and Public PoLicY analysis (APPLY):
descriptive normative and prescriptive. The volume offers a broad range of contributions
which treat argumentative phenomena that are directly related to the changes in public
discourse in the wake of the outburst of COVID-19. The volume additionally places particular
emphasis on expert argumentation given (i) the importance expert discourse has had over the
last two years and (ii) the challenges that expert argumentation has faced in the public
sphere as a result of scientific uncertainty and widespread misinformation. Contributions are
divided into three groups which (i) examine various features and aspects of public and
institutional discourse about the COVID-19 pandemic (ii) scrutinize the way health policies
have been discussed debated attacked and defended in the public sphere and (iii) consider a
range of proposals meant to improve the quality of public discourse and public deliberation in
particular in such a way that concrete proposals for argumentative literacy will be brought to
light. Overall this volume constitutes a timely inquiry into all things argumentative in
pandemic discourse. This volume is of interest to a broad readership including philosophers
linguists communication and legal scholars and members of the wider public who seek to better
understand the discourse surrounding communicative phenomena in times of crisis. COST (European
Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding organisation for research and innovation
networks. For more information: www.cost.eu
