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6.2 Pyramid Rule 2

The second aspect of the Pyramid Rule is that reasons or objections at a given level in the tree should be at roughly the same level of generality or abstraction.

Example

When the level problem above is fixed, the argument map looks like this

Note that the objection has become a reason when it moves down to support another primary objection.

The lower the level, the more difficult it is to ensure that a complex argument tree observes this aspect of the Pyramid Rule.  Fortunately, the lower the level, the less important this principle is. The upper levels of an argument tree determine its overall structure, and getting things right at those upper levels helps ensure that it is constructed solidly, even if it is a bit messy on the periphery.

The Pyramid Rule: More general or abstract considerations should appear higher in the argument tree, and considerations at the same level of the tree should be at roughly the same level of generality or abstraction. 

 Last updated 28-Nov-2006