This is a good paper that looks at the phenomenon of 'social information processing' and suggests that a study of the role of argumentation between proponents of diverse perspectives may be more important than is currently believed. Diversity, writes Renne Pesonen, is an important element of social knowledge and scientific progress. "When reasoners congregate in argumentative exchanges, the participants do their best to produce supporting arguments for their opinions and, crucially, a critical feedback mechanism emerges as they actively seek the faults in arguments presented by others." Too much diversity, however, "erodes trust and mutual understandings and prevents the convergence of opinion." Argumentation provides that crucial glue that "affects how we think, make decisions, and solve problems, as well as how cognitive biases may facilitate an efficient division of cognitive labor."
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