第 8 节
作者:冬儿      更新:2022-04-27 10:15      字数:9322
  commits a solecism; though he does not seem to do so to other
  people; where he who calls it a 'destructor' (oulomenon) commits no
  solecism though he seems to do so。 It is clear; then; that any one
  could produce this effect by art as well: and for this reason many
  arguments seem to lead to solecism which do not really do so; as
  happens in the case of refutations。
  Almost all apparent solecisms depend upon the word 'this' (tode);
  and upon occasions when the inflection denotes neither a masculine nor
  a feminine object but a neuter。 For 'he' (outos) signifies a
  masculine; and 'she' (aute) feminine; but 'this' (touto); though
  meant to signify a neuter; often also signifies one or other of the
  former: e。g。 'What is this?' 'It is Calliope'; 'it is a log'; 'it is
  Coriscus'。 Now in the masculine and feminine the inflections are all
  different; whereas in the neuter some are and some are not。 Often;
  then; when 'this' (touto) has been granted; people reason as if 'him'
  (touton) had been said: and likewise also they substitute one
  inflection for another。 The fallacy comes about because 'this'
  (touto) is a common form of several inflections: for 'this' signifies
  sometimes 'he' (outos) and sometimes 'him' (touton)。 It should
  signify them alternately; when combined with 'is' (esti) it should be
  'he'; while with 'being' it should be 'him': e。g。 'Coriscus
  (Kopiskos) is'; but 'being Coriscus' (Kopiskon)。 It happens in the
  same way in the case of feminine nouns as well; and in the case of the
  so…called 'chattels' that have feminine or masculine designations。 For
  only those names which end in o and n; have the designation proper
  to a chattel; e。g。 xulon ('log'); schoinion ('rope'); those which do
  not end so have that of a masculine or feminine object; though some of
  them we apply to chattels: e。g。 askos ('wineskin') is a masculine
  noun; and kline ('bed') a feminine。 For this reason in cases of this
  kind as well there will be a difference of the same sort between a
  construction with 'is' (esti) or with 'being' (to einai)。 Also;
  Solecism resembles in a certain way those refutations which are said
  to depend on the like expression of unlike things。 For; just as
  there we come upon a material solecism; so here we come upon a verbal:
  for 'man' is both a 'matter' for expression and also a 'word': and
  so is white'。
  It is clear; then; that for solecisms we must try to construct our
  argument out of the aforesaid inflections。
  These; then; are the types of contentious arguments; and the
  subdivisions of those types; and the methods for conducting them
  aforesaid。 But it makes no little difference if the materials for
  putting the question be arranged in a certain manner with a view to
  concealment; as in the case of dialectics。 Following then upon what we
  have said; this must be discussed first。
  15
  With a view then to refutation; one resource is length…for it is
  difficult to keep several things in view at once; and to secure length
  the elementary rules that have been stated before' should be employed。
  One resource; on the other hand; is speed; for when people are left
  behind they look ahead less。 Moreover; there is anger and
  contentiousness; for when agitated everybody is less able to take care
  of himself。 Elementary rules for producing anger are to make a show of
  the wish to play foul; and to be altogether shameless。 Moreover; there
  is the putting of one's questions alternately; whether one has more
  than one argument leading to the same conclusion; or whether one has
  arguments to show both that something is so; and that it is not so:
  for the result is that he has to be on his guard at the same time
  either against more than one line; or against contrary lines; of
  argument。 In general; all the methods described before of producing
  concealment are useful also for purposes of contentious argument:
  for the object of concealment is to avoid detection; and the object of
  this is to deceive。
  To counter those who refuse to grant whatever they suppose to help
  one's argument; one should put the question negatively; as though
  desirous of the opposite answer; or at any rate as though one put
  the question without prejudice; for when it is obscure what answer one
  wants to secure; people are less refractory。 Also when; in dealing
  with particulars; a man grants the individual case; when the induction
  is done you should often not put the universal as a question; but take
  it for granted and use it: for sometimes people themselves suppose
  that they have granted it; and also appear to the audience to have
  done so; for they remember the induction and assume that the questions
  could not have been put for nothing。 In cases where there is no term
  to indicate the universal; still you should avail yourself of the
  resemblance of the particulars to suit your purpose; for resemblance
  often escapes detection。 Also; with a view to obtaining your
  premiss; you ought to put it in your question side by side with its
  contrary。 E。g。 if it were necessary to secure the admission that 'A
  man should obey his father in everything'; ask 'Should a man obey
  his parents in everything; or disobey them in everything?'; and to
  secure that 'A number multiplied by a large number is a large number';
  ask 'Should one agree that it is a large number or a small one?' For
  then; if compelled to choose; one will be more inclined to think it
  a large one: for the placing of their contraries close beside them
  makes things look big to men; both relatively and absolutely; and
  worse and better。
  A strong appearance of having been refuted is often produced by
  the most highly sophistical of all the unfair tricks of questioners;
  when without proving anything; instead of putting their final
  proposition as a question; they state it as a conclusion; as though
  they had proved that 'Therefore so…and…so is not true'
  It is also a sophistical trick; when a paradox has been laid down;
  first to propose at the start some view that is generally accepted;
  and then claim that the answerer shall answer what he thinks about it;
  and to put one's question on matters of that kind in the form 'Do
  you think that。。。?' For then; if the question be taken as one of the
  premisses of one's argument; either a refutation or a paradox is bound
  to result; if he grants the view; a refutation; if he refuses to grant
  it or even to admit it as the received opinion; a paradox; if he
  refuses to grant it; but admits that it is the received opinion;
  something very like a refutation; results。
  Moreover; just as in rhetorical discourses; so also in those aimed
  at refutation; you should examine the discrepancies of the
  answerer's position either with his own statements; or with those of
  persons whom he admits to say and do aright; moreover with those of
  people who are generally supposed to bear that kind of character; or
  who are like them; or with those of the majority or of all men。 Also
  just as answerers; too; often; when they are in process of being
  confuted; draw a distinction; if their confutation is just about to
  take place; so questioners also should resort to this from time to
  time to counter objectors; pointing out; supposing that against one
  sense of the words the objection holds; but not against the other;
  that they have taken it in the latter sense; as e。g。 Cleophon does
  in the Mandrobulus。 They should also break off their argument and
  cut down their other lines of attack; while in answering; if a man
  perceives this being done beforehand; he should put in his objection
  and have his say first。 One should also lead attacks sometimes against
  positions other than the one stated; on the understood condition
  that one cannot find lines of attack against the view laid down; as
  Lycophron did when ordered to deliver a eulogy upon the lyre。 To
  counter those who demand 'Against what are you directing your
  effort?'; since one is generally thought bound to state the charge
  made; while; on the other hand; some ways of stating it make the
  defence too easy; you should state as your aim only the general result
  that always happens in refutations; namely the contradiction of his
  thesis …viz。 that your effort is to deny what he has affirmed; or to
  affirm what he denied: don't say that you are trying to show that
  the knowledge of contraries is; or is not; the same。 One must not
  ask one's conclusion in the form of a premiss; while some
  conclusions should not even be put as questions at all; one should
  take and use it as granted。
  16
  We have now therefore dealt with the sources of questions; and the
  methods of questioning in contentious disp