第 4 节
作者:冬儿      更新:2022-04-27 10:15      字数:9322
  should come about without taking into account the original point;
  and this is not the case with those arguments which depend upon
  begging the original point。
  Those that depend upon the consequent are a branch of Accident:
  for the consequent is an accident; only it differs from the accident
  in this; that you may secure an admission of the accident in the
  case of one thing only (e。g。 the identity of a yellow thing and
  honey and of a white thing and swan); whereas the consequent always
  involves more than one thing: for we claim that things that are the
  same as one and the same thing are also the same as one another; and
  this is the ground of a refutation dependent on the consequent。 It is;
  however; not always true; e。g。 suppose that and B are the same as C
  per accidens; for both 'snow' and the 'swan' are the same as something
  white'。 Or again; as in Melissus' argument; a man assumes that to
  'have been generated' and to 'have a beginning' are the same thing; or
  to 'become equal' and to 'assume the same magnitude'。 For because what
  has been generated has a beginning; he claims also that what has a
  beginning has been generated; and argues as though both what has
  been generated and what is finite were the same because each has a
  beginning。 Likewise also in the case of things that are made equal
  he assumes that if things that assume one and the same magnitude
  become equal; then also things that become equal assume one magnitude:
  i。e。 he assumes the consequent。 Inasmuch; then; as a refutation
  depending on accident consists in ignorance of what a refutation is;
  clearly so also does a refutation depending on the consequent。 We
  shall have further to examine this in another way as well。
  Those fallacies that depend upon the making of several questions
  into one consist in our failure to dissect the definition of
  'proposition'。 For a proposition is a single statement about a
  single thing。 For the same definition applies to 'one single thing
  only' and to the 'thing'; simply; e。g。 to 'man' and to 'one single man
  only' and likewise also in other cases。 If; then; a 'single
  proposition' be one which claims a single thing of a single thing; a
  'proposition'; simply; will also be the putting of a question of
  that kind。 Now since a proof starts from propositions and refutation
  is a proof; refutation; too; will start from propositions。 If; then; a
  proposition is a single statement about a single thing; it is
  obvious that this fallacy too consists in ignorance of what a
  refutation is: for in it what is not a proposition appears to be
  one。 If; then; the answerer has returned an answer as though to a
  single question; there will be a refutation; while if he has
  returned one not really but apparently; there will be an apparent
  refutation of his thesis。 All the types of fallacy; then; fall under
  ignorance of what a refutation is; some of them because the
  contradiction; which is the distinctive mark of a refutation; is
  merely apparent; and the rest failing to conform to the definition
  of a proof。
  7
  The deception comes about in the case of arguments that depend on
  ambiguity of words and of phrases because we are unable to divide
  the ambiguous term (for some terms it is not easy to divide; e。g。
  'unity'; 'being'; and 'sameness'); while in those that depend on
  combination and division; it is because we suppose that it makes no
  difference whether the phrase be combined or divided; as is indeed the
  case with most phrases。 Likewise also with those that depend on
  accent: for the lowering or raising of the voice upon a phrase is
  thought not to alter its meaning…with any phrase; or not with many。
  With those that depend on the of expression it is because of the
  likeness of expression。 For it is hard to distinguish what kind of
  things are signified by the same and what by different kinds of
  expression: for a man who can do this is practically next door to
  the understanding of the truth。 A special reason why a man is liable
  to be hurried into assent to the fallacy is that we suppose every
  predicate of everything to be an individual thing; and we understand
  it as being one with the thing: and we therefore treat it as a
  substance: for it is to that which is one with a thing or substance;
  as also to substance itself; that 'individually' and 'being' are
  deemed to belong in the fullest sense。 For this reason; too; this type
  of fallacy is to be ranked among those that depend on language; in the
  first place; because the deception is effected the more readily when
  we are inquiring into a problem in company with others than when we do
  so by ourselves (for an inquiry with another person is carried on by
  means of speech; whereas an inquiry by oneself is carried on quite
  as much by means of the object itself); secondly a man is liable to be
  deceived; even when inquiring by himself; when he takes speech as
  the basis of his inquiry: moreover the deception arises out of the
  likeness (of two different things); and the likeness arises out of the
  language。 With those fallacies that depend upon Accident; deception
  comes about because we cannot distinguish the sameness and otherness
  of terms; i。e。 their unity and multiplicity; or what kinds of
  predicate have all the same accidents as their subject。 Likewise
  also with those that depend on the Consequent: for the consequent is a
  branch of Accident。 Moreover; in many cases appearances point to
  this…and the claim is made that if is inseparable from B; so also is B
  from With those that depend upon an imperfection in the definition
  of a refutation; and with those that depend upon the difference
  between a qualified and an absolute statement; the deception
  consists in the smallness of the difference involved; for we treat the
  limitation to the particular thing or respect or manner or time as
  adding nothing to the meaning; and so grant the statement universally。
  Likewise also in the case of those that assume the original point; and
  those of false cause; and all that treat a number of questions as one:
  for in all of them the deception lies in the smallness of the
  difference: for our failure to be quite exact in our definition of
  'premiss' and of 'proof' is due to the aforesaid reason。
  8
  Since we know on how many points apparent syllogisms depend; we know
  also on how many sophistical syllogisms and refutations may depend。 By
  a sophistical refutation and syllogism I mean not only a syllogism
  or refutation which appears to be valid but is not; but also one
  which; though it is valid; only appears to be appropriate to the thing
  in question。 These are those which fail to refute and prove people
  to be ignorant according to the nature of the thing in question; which
  was the function of the art of examination。 Now the art of examining
  is a branch of dialectic: and this may prove a false conclusion
  because of the ignorance of the answerer。 Sophistic refutations on the
  other hand; even though they prove the contradictory of his thesis; do
  not make clear whether he is ignorant: for sophists entangle the
  scientist as well with these arguments。
  That we know them by the same line of inquiry is clear: for the same
  considerations which make it appear to an audience that the points
  required for the proof were asked in the questions and that the
  conclusion was proved; would make the answerer think so as well; so
  that false proof will occur through all or some of these means: for
  what a man has not been asked but thinks he has granted; he would also
  grant if he were asked。 Of course; in some cases the moment we add the
  missing question; we also show up its falsity; e。g。 in fallacies
  that depend on language and on solecism。 If then; fallacious proofs of
  the contradictory of a thesis depend on their appearing to refute;
  it is clear that the considerations on which both proofs of false
  conclusions and an apparent refutation depend must be the same in
  number。 Now an apparent refutation depends upon the elements
  involved in a genuine one: for the failure of one or other of these
  must make the refutation merely apparent; e。g。 that which depends on
  the failure of the conclusion to follow from the argument (the
  argument ad impossible) and that which treats two questions as one and
  so depends upon a flaw in the premiss; and that which depends on the
  substitution of an accident for an essential attribute; and…a branch
  of the last…that which depends upon the consequent: more over; the
  conclusion may follow not in fact but only verbally: then; instead
  of proving the contradictory universally and in the same respect and
  relation and manner; the falla