Institutes of Oratory

In this way, Oratorical Invention is distinguished from Dialectical Invention. As Alexander of Aphrodisias wrote * 1. Topics. Alexander of Aphrodisias was a prominent Greek commentator on Aristotle's works around 200 AD., Dialectical Invention is universal because it demonstrates any probable arguments. Oratorical Invention is particular, as it provides only persuasive * persuasive. original: "πιθανά" arguments. Therefore, a Rhetorician must repeatedly draw arguments from the Logician's storehouse; however, a Logician does not likewise need to draw from the quivers of the Rhetoricians.

It is added in the definition, "insofar as arguments are suitable for persuading." For if reputable opinions * probable things. original: "ἔνδοξα" and persuasive things original: "πιθανά" do not differ except as genus and species, and Dialectic considers reputable opinions generally, it was necessary for the object of Rhetorical Invention to be distinguished from the object of Dialectics also by its form, or by its mode of consideration.

By some, Oratorical Invention is defined so loosely that it even applies to the exposition of a simple theme. My opinion on this is clear from what I said in the previous chapter regarding the orator's subject matter.

II. WHAT AN ORATORICAL ARGUMENT IS, AND HOW MANY KINDS THERE ARE.

Agraetius, an ancient grammarian, shows what an argument is and where the word comes from. He says, To argue is to show and to make open. Virgil writes, Fear reveals degenerate spirits. Aeneid, Book 4, line 13. Fear reveals a lack of noble character. From this, they are called arguments because they show the cause of the cause. In this context, by the first mention of "cause" he means the reason or foundation on which our opinion rests; by the second "cause" he means the specific case original: "ὑπόθεσιν" or controversy. For Boethius * Book 4 on Cicero's Topics., an argument is defined as a reason that produces belief in a doubtful matter.

But the Rhetorician does not deal with just any arguments; he deals with those that lead to the production of belief. Hence, Aristotle calls these proofs original: "πίστεις". These are either technical original: "ἔντεχνα" and internal to the matter, or non-technical original: "ἄτεχνα" and removed from the matter. Quintilian translated these as artificial and inartificial. Non-technical proofs are brought from elsewhere and are merely handled by the Orator. These include witnesses, contracts, and similar items. Therefore, they do not strictly involve invention. Technical proofs, however, which are called Proofs par excellence, must be both discovered and handled. These belong to continuous speech. The non-technical proofs, such as witnesses, documents, and oaths, are reserved for the skill of cross-examination. Franciscus Polletus proves this by citing several passages from the ancients in the fourth book of his History of the Roman Forum, chapter twelve.