Chap.IV. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 407 



Again, if it be propofed to prove that a thing is evil, I affume this 

 propofition, that the thing deftriidive of it is good ; and then I argue 

 from this topic, that, * Of any thing the deftru(5tion being good, the 

 ' thing itfelf muft be evih' 



Another very common topic, much infifled on by the rhetoricians 

 of thofe times, and, I believe, of all times, is, that, 'Whoever does 



* what is more, whether good or ill, muft be prefumed to do what is 

 •■ lefs.' The topic which includes this argument is, that, ' Where the 

 '^greater is, the lefTer will alfo be *.' And another more common to- 

 pic ftill, in all popular affemblies, is, that, ' Whoever falls into contra- 

 ' dictions or abfurdities in arguing a caufe, has a bad caufe.' Nor is 

 there any argument more prevalent among the people, though it be of 

 no weight among philofophers, and men of fcience, who will confider 

 the caufe independent of the abilities of the fpeaker. 



Another topic, which is not conclufive, but from which fpecious 

 arguments may be drawn, is that by which I prove that it is not 

 good to be wife or learned, becaule fuch are envied, and to be envied 

 is an ill thing. The topic there is, that, * Whatever thing ill follows 



* from, that thing is not good ;* or, to exprefs it more generally or to-" 

 pically, * Every thing is of the nature of that which follows from it.' 

 And this, Ariftotle tells us, was the whole art of Calippus, a rhetori- 

 cian or fophift: of his time. This argument, if both good and ill fol- 

 low from the thing, n^ay be turned different ways, as in the inftance 

 before us, where many g >od things may be mentioned, as the confe- 

 quences of being wife and learned : And, to fhow the amphibology 

 of this argument, Ariifotlc quotes a famous faying of a prieftefs, vvho: 

 diffuaded her Ion from haranguing in public afllmblies of the people., 



'If. 



• Arijlot Rhetor, ibid. This is called the to ^«aa«v xa« '.jVtoi', and is a fruitful, 

 topic, as may be feen from Anftotie's i.iouk-. oi ^ upics. 



