aristotle, the rhetoric, book ii the topics
TRANSCRIPT
The Rhetoric, Book II: The Topics
The Rhetoric, Book II: The Topics
TOPIC: from the Greek topos (plural: topoi), meaning “place.” According to Aristotle, a topic is a general argumentative pattern out of which arguments about specific subjects can be generated.
The Rhetoric, Book II: The Topics
In its most basic form, that general argumentative pattern consists of a kind of conceptual “intersection,” i.e., a pair of complementary and/or conflicting terms that we can use to locate and define our subject.
TOPIC: from the Greek topos (plural: topoi), meaning “place.” According to Aristotle, a topic is a general argumentative pattern out of which arguments about specific subjects can be generated.
In more developed forms, intersections intersect with other intersections to create the kinds of highly complex, multifaceted patterns that generate highly complex, multifaceted arguments.
The Rhetoric, Book II: The Topics
Some topoi
•Definition: General / Specific
TOPIC: from the Greek topos (plural: topoi), meaning “place.” According to Aristotle, a topic is a general argumentative pattern out of which arguments about specific subjects can be generated.
Our first subject
The Rhetoric, Book II: The Topics
Some topoi
•Definition: General / Specific
•Division: Whole / Parts
TOPIC: from the Greek topos (plural: topoi), meaning “place.” According to Aristotle, a topic is a general argumentative pattern out of which arguments about specific subjects can be generated.
Our first subject
The Rhetoric, Book II: The Topics
Some topoi
•Definition: General / Specific
•Division: Whole / Parts
•Comparison: Similarity / Difference, or Degree
TOPIC: from the Greek topos (plural: topoi), meaning “place.” According to Aristotle, a topic is a general argumentative pattern out of which arguments about specific subjects can be generated.
Our first subject
The Rhetoric, Book II: The Topics
Some topoi
•Definition: General / Specific
•Division: Whole / Parts
•Comparison: Similarity / Difference, or Degree
•Relationship: Cause / Effect; Contraries; Contradictions
TOPIC: from the Greek topos (plural: topoi), meaning “place.” According to Aristotle, a topic is a general argumentative pattern out of which arguments about specific subjects can be generated.
Our first subject
The Rhetoric, Book II: The Topics
Some topoi
•Definition: General / Specific
•Division: Whole / Parts
•Comparison: Similarity / Difference, or Degree
•Relationship: Cause / Effect; Contraries; Contradictions
•Circumstances: Possible / Impossible; Past Fact / Future Fact
TOPIC: from the Greek topos (plural: topoi), meaning “place.” According to Aristotle, a topic is a general argumentative pattern out of which arguments about specific subjects can be generated.
Our first subject
The Rhetoric, Book II: The Topics
Some topoi
•Definition: General / Specific
•Division: Whole / Parts
•Comparison: Similarity / Difference, or Degree
•Relationship: Cause / Effect; Contraries; Contradictions
•Circumstances: Possible / Impossible; Past Fact / Future Fact
•Testimony: Authorities; Witnesses; Maxims;
Rumors; Oaths; Documents; etc.
TOPIC: from the Greek topos (plural: topoi), meaning “place.” According to Aristotle, a topic is a general argumentative pattern out of which arguments about specific subjects can be generated.
Our first subject
The Rhetoric, Book II: The Topics
Some topoi
•Definition: General / Specific
•Division: Whole / Parts
•Comparison: Similarity / Difference, or Degree
•Relationship: Cause / Effect; Contraries; Contradictions
•Circumstances: Possible / Impossible; Past Fact / Future Fact
•Testimony: Authorities; Witnesses; Maxims;
Rumors; Oaths; Documents; etc.
TOPIC: from the Greek topos (plural: topoi), meaning “place.” According to Aristotle, a topic is a general argumentative pattern out of which arguments about specific subjects can be generated.
Our second subject