Single Idea 12260

[catalogued under 2. Reason / C. Styles of Reason / 1. Dialectic]

Full Idea

Reasoning is dialectical which reasons from generally accepted opinions.

Gist of Idea

Dialectic starts from generally accepted opinions

Source

Aristotle (Topics [c.331 BCE], 100a30)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Posterior Analytics and Topica', ed/tr. Tredennick,H/Forster,ES [Harvard 1960], p.273


A Reaction

This is right at the heart of Aristotle's philosophical method, and Greek thinking generally. There are nice modern debates about 'folk' understanding, derived from science (e.g. quantum theory) which suggest that starting from normal views is a bad idea.