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Single Idea 5847

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

Full Idea

It belongs to dialectic to survey equally all kinds of syllogism.

Clarification

Syllogism are structured arguments, built up from premisses

Gist of Idea

It is the role of dialectic to survey syllogisms

Source

Aristotle (The Art of Rhetoric [c.350 BCE], 1355a08)

Book Ref

Aristotle: 'The Art of Rhetoric', ed/tr. Lawson-Tancred,H.C. [Penguin 1991], p.68


A Reaction

Since dialectic is central to philosophy, this implies that philosophers ought to be students of logic. This duty seems to me to be taken more seriously in the analytical tradition than in the 'continental' tradition.


The 17 ideas from 'The Art of Rhetoric'

It is the role of dialectic to survey syllogisms [Aristotle]
All good things can be misused, except virtue [Aristotle]
Rhetoric is a political offshoot of dialectic and ethics [Aristotle]
Happiness is composed of a catalogue of internal and external benefits [Aristotle]
Pentathletes look the most beautiful, because they combine speed and strength [Aristotle]
The four constitutions are democracy (freedom), oligarchy (wealth), aristocracy (custom), tyranny (security) [Aristotle]
The best virtues are the most useful to others [Aristotle]
It is noble to avenge oneself on one's enemies, and not come to terms with them [Aristotle]
Desired responsible actions result either from rational or from irrational desire [Aristotle]
Nobody fears a disease which nobody has yet caught [Aristotle]
We all feel universal right and wrong, independent of any community or contracts [Aristotle]
Self-interest is a relative good, but nobility an absolute good [Aristotle]
The young feel pity from philanthropy, but the old from self-concern [Aristotle]
Men are physically prime at thirty-five, and mentally prime at forty-nine [Aristotle]
Rich people are mindlessly happy [Aristotle]
People assume events cause what follows them [Aristotle]
A single counterexample is enough to prove that a truth is not necessary [Aristotle]