Topics
Common Topics
Definition
Comparison
Relationship
Circumstance
Testimony
Past fact / Future Fact (Topic of Conjecture)
~concerned with whether or not something happened
~deals with probabilities (when facts are uncertain, argues from probable premises to probable conclusions)
~used to describe the way things are, conditions which exist
QUESTIONS
What exists
What does not exist
The size or exyent of what exists
How things used to be
How things will be in the future
Degree or Greater/Lesser or Magnitude (Topic of Values)
~used to establish what is good/just/honorable/beautiful/expedient
~argues that some state of affairs is better, more just, etc. than another
~also argues that this may change over time
~leads to questions of value
QUESTIONS
What is greater than the norm
What is lesser than the norm
What is relatively greater than something else
What is relatively lesser
What is good, just, honorable, beautiful, expedient
What is better, more just, etc.
What is less good, less just, etc.
What is good for all persons
What is good for only some / for whom
What has been better in the past
What can be better in the future
Possible / Impossible (Topic of Possibilities)
~argues that CHANGE either is or is not possible, now or in the future
~admits of degrees of change
~may argue from examples or deductively
QUESTIONS
What is possible
What is not possible
What is more or less possible
What may be possible in the future
What would be impossible in the future
What was possible or impossible in the past
Definition
- Genus
- Division
Comparison
- Similarity
- Difference
- Degree
Relationship
- Cause and Effect
- Antecedent and Consequence
- Contraries
- Contradictions
Circumstance
- Possible and Impossible
- Past Fact and Future Fact
Testimony
- Authority
- Testimonial
- Statistics
- Maxims
- Laws
- Precedents (Examples)
Past fact / Future Fact (Topic of Conjecture)
~concerned with whether or not something happened
~deals with probabilities (when facts are uncertain, argues from probable premises to probable conclusions)
~used to describe the way things are, conditions which exist
QUESTIONS
What exists
What does not exist
The size or exyent of what exists
How things used to be
How things will be in the future
Degree or Greater/Lesser or Magnitude (Topic of Values)
~used to establish what is good/just/honorable/beautiful/expedient
~argues that some state of affairs is better, more just, etc. than another
~also argues that this may change over time
~leads to questions of value
QUESTIONS
What is greater than the norm
What is lesser than the norm
What is relatively greater than something else
What is relatively lesser
What is good, just, honorable, beautiful, expedient
What is better, more just, etc.
What is less good, less just, etc.
What is good for all persons
What is good for only some / for whom
What has been better in the past
What can be better in the future
Possible / Impossible (Topic of Possibilities)
~argues that CHANGE either is or is not possible, now or in the future
~admits of degrees of change
~may argue from examples or deductively
QUESTIONS
What is possible
What is not possible
What is more or less possible
What may be possible in the future
What would be impossible in the future
What was possible or impossible in the past