1. The Rhetoric, Book II: The Topics

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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