亚里士多德论题学之考辨

On Aristotle's Topics

"论题学"最早源于亚里士多德的《论题篇》,指导人们如何以普遍接受的意见为前提对所提出的任何问题用三段论进行推理,而区别于以公理为前提的明证推理。"论题"是辩证式论辩双方就某个辩证的命题或问题进行论证时,借助四种述语所寻找的论点、事例或资料之所在地或储存的位置。论题具有选择与保证论证的功能。亚里士多德的修辞学以说服听众为直接目的,既是辩证法的对应物,也是伦理学的分枝。所谓"属于技艺本身的说服模式",就是后来的"开题术",其核心是"恩梯墨玛"(修辞式三段论)。修辞论题混合了辩证论题与亚里士多德之前的修辞学家们的论述,且采用以事说理的论述方式。但无论如何,不能将"辩证论题学"(《论题篇》中的论题学)与"修辞论题学"(《修辞学》中的论题学)混为一谈。

'Topics' originated from Aristotle's Topika,which shows how to use syllogistic reasoning on any issues raised by generally accepted opinion.The topic has the function of selection and assurance of argument.Aristotle's rhetoric takes convincing the audience as the direct purpose,which is both the dialectics'counterpart and ethics'branch.Rhetoric mixes the topic of dialectic and rhetoric before Aristotle.But in any case,'the dialectical Topica' (in Topika) and 'the rhetorical Topica' (in Rhetoric) can not be lumped together.