Quantity

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Quantity Questions Asked by Topic How much of
the thing is there, and how much is good? General
Structure of Claim X is better than Y because of
quantitative reasons (X has more of an accepted
good/useful quality than Y).
Fun Fact about Topics Certain beliefs in the
superiority of democracy and of common sense
rest on the quantity topic. Xs government is
better because more people participate. X is
more true because more people believe it.
2
Quality Questions Asked by Topic What is
uniquely good about the thing, regardless of
amount? General Structure of Claim X is better
than Y because of a particular quality that X
has, and Y lacks.
Fun Fact about Topics The locus of quality is
often used to counter the locus of quality.
More isnt necessarily better if you lack an
important quality.
3
Order Questions Asked by Topic What is superior
because it comes earlier or later than the
rest? General Structure of Claim X is better
than Y because X came before/after Y.
Fun Fact about Topics Many philosophic arguments
occur in the topic of order, trying to establish
the causal or existential primacy of certain
things over others.
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Existence Questions Asked by Topic What exists,
and is that existence proof of superiority over
that which doesnt exist? General Structure of
Claim X is superior to Y because Y doesnt
exist, and X does.
Fun Fact about Topics Often, when the topic of
existence is raised, the opponent will counter
with a different definition of existence.
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Essence Questions Asked by Topic What is the
essence of an object? Does that essence give the
object a higher value than something
else? General Structure of Claim X is superior
to Y because X embodies Z, and Y does not.
Fun Fact about Topics Leaders will often justify
ruthless decisions by referring to their essence,
rather than to the effects of their actions.
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Person Questions Asked by Topic Do the dignity,
worth, autonomy, or value of a person contribute
to the value of her actions and
involvements? General Structure of Claim X is
superior to Y because X was done by J who is a
dignified/unique/autonomous person.
Fun Fact about Topics L. Olbrechts-Tyteca is one
of the few women popularly accepted into the
canon of western rhetorical theory, so one could
argue by the topic of person, that her theory is
particularly valuable.
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Interesting and Closing Historical Note Perelman
and Olbrechts-Tyteca argue that classicists liked
topics of the eternal, the rational, the
universal, the valid, and the stable. They also
argued that romantics liked topics of the unique,
the new, the outstanding, the precarious, and the
irremediable. Both Perelman and Olbrechts-Tyteca
were neo-Aristotelians, which means they
identified most strongly with classicists, not
romantics.