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Aristotle · Topics §7.4

The Most Useful Topics for Examining Definitions

Passage 79 of 94 · Greek

Summary

Points out the most crucial and useful topics for establishing or refuting definitions, and presents examples of applying common topics, such as examining species and metaphorical usages.

§7.4Εἰσὶ δὲ καὶ ἐπικαιρότατοι τῶν τόπων οἵ τε νῦν εἰρημένοι καὶ οἱ ἐκ τῶν συστοίχων καὶ οἱ ἐκ τῶν πτώσεων.
The topics just mentioned, as well as those from cognates and those from inflections, are the most crucial of all.
Διὸ καὶ δεῖ μάλιστα κατέχειν καὶ προχείρους ἔχειν τούτους· χρησιμώτατοι γὰρ πρὸς πλεῖστα.
Therefore, one must especially master these and have them ready at hand; for they are the most useful for the greatest number of cases.
Καὶ τῶν ἄλλων δὲ τοὺς μάλιστα κοινούς· οὗτοι γὰρ ἐνεργότατοι τῶν λοιπῶν, οἷον τό τ᾿ ἐπιβλέπειν ἐπὶ τὸ καθ᾿ ἕκαστα, καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν εἰδῶν σκοπεῖν εἰ ἐφαρμόττει ὁ λόγος, ἐπειδὴ συνώνυμον τὸ εἶδος.
And of the other topics, one should especially master those that are most common; for these are the most effective among the remaining ones, such as looking at individual cases, and examining in the case of species whether the definition fits, since the species is synonymous.
Ἔστι δὲ χρήσιμον τὸ τοιοῦτον πρὸς τοὺς τιθεμένους ἰδέας εἶναι, καθάπερ πρότερον εἴρηται.
Such a course is useful against those who posit that ideas exist, just as was said before.
Ἔτι εἰ μεταφέρων εἴρηκε τοὔνομα, ἢ αὐτὸ αὑτοῦ κατηγόρηκεν ὡς ἕτερον.
Furthermore, one should examine whether someone has used the term metaphorically, or has predicated a thing of itself as though it were something else.
Καὶ εἴ τις ἄλλος κοινὸς καὶ ἐνεργὸς τῶν τόπων ἐστί, τούτῳ χρηστέον.
And if there is any other topic that is common and effective, it must be employed.

Notes

  1. §7.4Καὶ τῶν ἄλλων δὲ τοὺς μάλιστα κοινούς· — The predicate `δεῖ μάλιστα κατέχειν` (one must especially master) from the preceding sentence is understood as omitted, taking the accusative `τοὺς μάλιστα κοινούς` (the most common ones) as its object.
  2. §7.4Ἔτι εἰ μεταφέρων εἴρηκε τοὔνομα, — The clause introduced by `εἰ` (if/whether) functions as an indirect question, with a governing verb of examining (such as `σκοπεῖν` mentioned earlier) understood from the context.

Cite this passage

Aristotle, Topics §7.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0086.tlg044.humanitext-grc1:7.4

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