Muller Mirza, Nathalie & Perret-Clermont, Anne-Nelly (eds.) (2009). Argumentation and Education: Theoretical Foundations and Practices. Dordrecht, He

Nathalie Muller Mirza and Anne- Nelly Perret-Clermont’s edited book Argumentation and Education is an achievement in the effort of integrating two fields of tremendous importance, theoretically, methodologically and last but not least, ethically. Thanks to the collaboration of different research groups from six countries, both editors and authors, throughout the eight chapters, cast a well documented and critical gaze at the amplitude of argumentation theory in the scientific arena, its methodological implications and detailed empirical evidence. The book exemplifies what can be achieved by academic groups, when they share not only a wealth of experiences, but a specific way of considering the scientific, cultural and social relevance of argumentation. I just quote from the Rigotti & Morasso’s first chapter: “Argumentation is the substance of democracy, which is different from other social systems exactly because its only legitimated power is that of the word, since words are the only tools we [humans] have, in order to build free consent and live together freely.” (p. 29)