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Aristotle · On Sophistical Refutations §23

General Solutions to Fallacies Dependent on Language

Passage 23 of 29 · Greek

Summary

The general solution for fallacies dependent on language is explained, and concrete examples of solutions are presented for various types, such as composition and division, accent, homonymy, ambiguity, and similarity of language.

§23Ὅλως δ᾿ ἐν τοῖς παρὰ τὴν λέξιν λόγοις ἀεὶ κατὰ τὸ ἀντικείμενον ἔσται ἡ λύσις ἢ παρ᾿ ὅ ἐστιν ὁ λόγος.
In general, in arguments dependent on language, the solution will always be in accordance with the opposite of that on which the argument depends.
Οἷον εἰ παρὰ σύνθεσιν ὁ λόγος, ἡ λύσις διελόντι, εἰ δὲ παρὰ διαίρεσιν, συνθέντι.
For example, if the argument is due to composition, the solution is for one who divides, and if due to division, for one who composes.
Πάλιν εἰ παρὰ προσῳδίαν ὀξεῖαν, ἡ βαρεῖα προσῳδία λύσις, εἰ δὲ παρὰ βαρεῖαν, ἡ ὀξεῖα.
Again, if it is due to an acute accent, the grave accent is the solution, and if due to a grave, the acute.
Εἰ δὲ παρ᾿ ὁμωνυμίαν, ἔστι τὸ ἀντικείμενον ὄνομα εἰπόντα λύειν, οἷον εἰ ἔμψυχον συμβαίνει λέγειν, ἀποφήσαντα μὴ εἶναι, δηλοῦν ὡς ἔστιν ἔμψυχον· εἰ δ᾿ ἄψυχον ἔφησεν, ὁ δ᾿ ἔμψυχον συνελογίσατο, λέγειν ὡς ἔστιν ἄψυχον.
If it is due to homonymy, it is possible to solve it by stating the opposite name; for example, if it happens that one says "animate", by denying that it is so, and showing how it is animate; but if one said "inanimate", and the other deduced "animate", by saying that it is inanimate.
Ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς ἀμφιβολίας.
Similarly also in the case of ambiguity.
Εἰ δὲ παρ᾿ ὁμοιότητα λέξεως, τὸ ἀντικείμενον ἔσται λύσις.
And if it is due to the similarity of language, the opposite will be the solution.
Ἆρ᾿ ὃ μὴ ἔχει, δοίη ἄν τις; ἢ οὐχ ὃ μὴ ἔχει, ἀλλ᾿ ὡς οὐκ ἔχει, οἷον ἕνα μόνον ἀστράγαλον.
"Would anyone give what he does not have?" No, not what he does not have, but in the way in which he does not have it, for instance, only one die.
Ἆρ᾿ ὃ ἐπίσταται, μαθὼν ἢ εὑρὼν ἐπίσταται; ἀλλ᾿ οὐχ ἃ ἐπίσταται.
"Does one know what one knows by having learned or found it?" Yes, but not the things which one knows.
Καὶ εἰ ὃ βαδίζει πατεῖ, ἀλλ᾿ οὐχ ὅτε.
And if "one tramples what one walks", but not when one walks.
Ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἄλλων.
Similarly also in the other cases.

Notes

  1. ¦1¦παρ᾿ ὅ ἐστιν ὁ λόγος — Contrasted with κατὰ τὸ ἀντικείμενον. It means "in accordance with that because of which the argument (or fallacy) exists", i.e., the very cause of the fallacy.
  2. ¦1¦διελόντι — Dative participle (masculine singular), functioning as a dative of agent or relation ("for one who divides" or "by dividing").
  3. ¦1¦ἔστι τὸ ἀντικείμενον ὄνομα εἰπόντα λύειν — The subject of the infinitive λύειν is expressed by the accusative participle εἰπόντα, which goes with the impersonal verb ἔστι ("it is possible for one who states... to solve").
  4. ¦2¦ἀλλ᾿ οὐχ ἃ ἐπίσταται — Contrasts the plural ἃ ἐπίσταται ("the things one knows") with the preceding singular ὃ ἐπίσταται ("what one knows"), denying the knowledge of the whole group of things together.

Cite this passage

Aristotle, On Sophistical Refutations §23. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0086.tlg040.humanitext-grc1:23

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