Aristotle's Topics — 18 of 18

Hugh Burns

Release 1

Chapter 5 - Aristotle's Topics

[Finally, we have the topics themselves. These are written out as an Inform table. Tables are written in a "tab separated values" form that is a very bad fit for long text.]

Table of Aristotelian Questions

namedifficultytextexplanationfollow-up
the opposite questioneasy"WHAT IS THE OPPOSITE OF [the subject]?[line break]""SOMETIMES A GOOD WAY TO DESCRIBE SOMETHING IS BY TELLING[line break]WHAT IT IS NOT. THERE MAY OR MAY NOT BE A DIRECT[line break]OPPOSITE OF [the subject], BUT[line break]SEE IF YOU CAN THINK OF ONE.[line break][line break]FOR EXAMPLE, IF I WERE WRITING A PAPER ON SOLAR[line break]ENERGY, AN ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION MIGHT PRODUCE A[line break]LIST OF EARTH'S NATURAL ENERGY RESOURCES.[line break]"prompt A
the good consequences questioneasy"WHAT ARE THE GOOD CONSEQUENCES OF[line break][the subject]?[line break]""WHAT GOOD WILL COME ABOUT FROM MANKIND'S CONCERN ABOUT[line break][the subject]?[line break][line break]FOR EXAMPLE, IF I WERE WRITING A PAPER ABOUT COLLEGE[line break]ACADEMICS, SOME OF THE GOOD CONSEQUENCES MAY BE A BETTER[line break]JOB IN THE FUTURE, A FULLER UNDERSTANDING[line break]ABOUT OUR WORLD, AND AN APPRECIATION FOR GOOD STUDY HABITS.[line break](STOP THE SNICKERING AND GET ON WITH AN ANSWER.)[line break]"prompt C
the effects questioneasy"WHAT COULD BE CONSIDERED A RESULT[line break]OF [the subject]?[line break]""THIS QUESTION IS ABOUT CAUSES AND EFFECTS, BUT YOUR ANSWER[line break]SHOULD JUST MENTION THE EFFECTS, THE RESULTS, THE[line break]OUTCOMES OF [the subject].[line break][line break]FOR EXAMPLE, IF I WERE WRITING A PAPER ABOUT EXERCISE.[line break]I WOULD WRITE ABOUT A STRONGER HEART, A NEWFOUND[line break]ALERTNESS, AND ANOTHER WAY TO SPEND MONEY (JOGGING SHOES,[line break]TENNIS RACKETS, BICYCLES, WEIGHTS, ETC.)[line break]"prompt C
the time questioneasy"HOW DOES TIME AFFECT [the subject]?[line break]""ARISTOTLE THOUGHT ABOUT TIME AND CHANGE OFTEN. DOES[line break][the subject] CHANGE OVER TIME?[line break][line break]FOR EXAMPLE, IF I WERE WRITING A PAPER ABOUT DIAMOND MINING,[line break]I MIGHT WANT TO RESEARCH HOW TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED THE[line break]MINING PROCESS.[line break]"prompt A
the inspiration questioneasy"WHAT SPECIAL EXPERIENCES MADE YOU SELECT[line break][the subject] AS YOUR TOPIC?[line break]""IF YOU HAVE A GOOD ANSWER HERE, YOU WILL PROBABLY WRITE[line break]A DECENT PAPER. BY 'SPECIAL', I MEAN 'UNIQUE',[line break]'INTERESTING', OR 'IMPORTANT'. THESE EXPERIENCES DO NOT[line break]NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE YOURS; YOU COULD PRETEND TO BE A[line break]REPORTER.[line break]"prompt B
the definition questioneasy"DEFINE [the subject].[line break]""YOU MIGHT SPEND ALL DAY ON THIS QUESTION, BUT I AM[line break]AFTER A SHORT DEFINITION. IN LESS THAN TWENTY WORDS,[line break]WHAT IS [the subject]?[line break]"prompt C
the causes questioneasy"WHAT COULD BE CONSIDERED A CAUSE[line break]OF [the subject]?[line break]""THIS QUESTION IS ABOUT CAUSES AND EFFECTS, BUT YOUR ANSWER[line break]SHOULD JUST MENTION THE CAUSES, THE REASONS,[line break]THE 'WHYS' REGARDING [the subject].[line break][line break]FOR EXAMPLE, IF I WERE WRITING ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAMS,[line break]I WOULD WRITE SOMETHING ABOUT THE[line break]OUTRAGES OF RACISM OUR WORLD WAS WITNESSED.[line break]"prompt A
the associated objects questioneasy"WHAT OBJECTS DO YOU ASSOCIATE[line break]WITH [the subject]? HOW MIGHT THEY[line break]BE INCLUDED IN YOUR THEME?[line break]""IF I SAY 'BLACK', YOU SAY 'WHITE'.[line break]IF I SAY 'HEADACHE', YOU SAY 'ASPIRIN'.[line break][line break]NOW, [first name], IF I SAY [the subject],[line break]WHAT DO YOU SAY?[line break]"prompt B
the hypocrisy questioneasy"DOES PUBLIC OPINION ABOUT [the subject][line break]DIFFER FROM PRIVATE OPINION?[line break]""BY 'PUBLIC OPINION', I MEAN THE POPULAR POINT OF VIEW.[line break]BY 'PRIVATE OPINION', I MEAN THE WAY PEOPLE ACTUALLY BEHAVE.[line break]SOMETIMES, SUCH IRONIC DIFFERENCES HIGHLIGHT THE OLD ADAGE:[line break]'DO WHAT I SAY, NOT WHAT I DO!'[line break][line break]FOR EXAMPLE, MANY FREE AND LIBERAL THINKERS MAY BE MORE[line break]CONSERVATIVE IN MAKING POLITICAL DECISIONS.[line break]"prompt C
the what's decided questioneasy"WHAT HAS BEEN DECIDED ABOUT [the subject][line break]TO DATE.[line break]""DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT [the subject].[line break]WHAT WERE THEY ABOUT? WHO MADE THEM?[line break][line break]FOR EXAMPLE, IF I WERE WRITING A PAPER ABOUT INFLATION,[line break]I WOULD WANT TO WRITE A PARAGRAPH OR TWO ABOUT THE[line break]GOVERNMENT'S LEGISLATION TO DATE.[line break]"prompt A
the what's undecided questionhard"WHAT STILL MUST BE DECIDED ABOUT[line break][the subject]? DESCRIBE.[line break]""WHAT DECISIONS WILL HAVE TO BE MADE IN THE FUTURE[line break]CONCERNING [the subject].[line break][line break]FILL IN THE BLANKS: CONCERNING [the subject],[line break]WE MUST DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO DO _________________________.[line break]"prompt B
the connotations-denotations questionhard"TAKE EACH WORD OF [the subject] INDIVIDUALLY.[line break]WHAT DOES IT MEAN? CONNOTATIONS? DENOTATIONS?[line break]""A 'CONNOTATION' IS AN ASSOCIATION; A 'DETONATION' IS[line break]A DICTIONARY MEANING. THIS TACTIC OF THINKING ABOUT[line break]THE INDIVIDUAL WORDS IN A TOPIC OFTEN BRINGS[line break]A FRESSH INSIGHT.[line break]"prompt B
the bad consequences questionhard"WHAT ARE THE BAD CONSEQUENCES OF[line break][the subject]?[line break]""WHAT BAD WILL COME ABOUT FROM MANKIND'S CONCERN ABOUT[line break][the subject]?[line break][line break]IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT WAS, IS, AND WILL BE THE 'BAD NEWS'[line break]OF THIS TOPIC. IF YOU CANNOT THINK OF ANYTHING BAD, THEN[line break]WHY NOT?[line break]"prompt A
the contrarian questionhard"WHO MIGHT BELIEVE THAT THE GOOD CONSEQUENCES OF[line break][the subject] ARE BAD?[line break]""HERE, [first name], WE ARE SEARCHING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO[line break]HAVE COUNTER-ARGUMENTS. LAWYERS ARE ALWAYS INTERESTED[line break]IN THIS PARTICULAR QUESTION. MOST ISSUES WE WRITE ABOUT[line break]ARE NOT THAT CLEAR-CUT, NOT THAT 'BLACK AND WHITE.'[line break]"prompt B
the expert questionhard"WHO WOULD YOU CONSIDER AN AUTHORITY[line break]ON [the subject]?[line break]""BY 'AUTHORITY', I MEAN A SO-CALLED EXPERT.[line break]AS YOU WRITE THE PAPER, YOU MAY QUOTE THESE PEOPLE.[line break]GENERALLY, THEIR OPINIONS ARE RESPECTED--IF NOT BELIEVED.[line break]"prompt C
the giving questionhard"WHO GIVES (AND WHO RECEIVES) [the subject]?[line break]""I AM OFTEN SURPRISED BY THE CREATIVE ANSWERS TO THIS[line break]QUESTION. THERE IS USUALLY AN INSIGHT IN UNDERSTANDING[line break]THESE ROLES. BY 'GIVES', I MEAN 'IS RESPONSIBLE FOR'.[line break]BY 'RECEIVES', I MEAN 'ACCEPTING THE CONSSEQUENCES OF'.[line break]"prompt C
the authority questionhard"WHAT MAKES YOU SOMETHING OF AN AUTHORITY ON [the subject]?[line break]""YOU PROBABLY DON'T THINK OF YOURSELF AS AN AUTHORITY.[line break]SO PRETEND THAT YOU ARE. WHAT CREDENTIALS DO YOU THINK AN[line break]AUTHORITY ON [the subject] SHOULD HAVE?[line break]EDUCATION? POWER? WEALTH? COURAGE? HUMILITY?[line break]"prompt A
the parts questionhard"WHAT PARTS OF [the subject] SHOULD BE[line break]DISCUSSED SEPARATELY?[line break]""BEFORE SOMEONE CAN UNDERSTAND [the subject],[line break]WHAT MATTERS MUST BE UNDERSTOOD BY THEMSELVES.[line break]"prompt B
the subtopics questionhard"DIVIDE [the subject] INTO THREE[line break]SUB-TOPICS.[line break]""I LIKE ASKING THIS QUESTION BECAUSE IT MAY HELP YOU ORGANIZE[line break]YOUR PAPER. WHAT ARE THREE OF THE MAJOR PARTS THAT CREATE[line break]THE WHOLE OF [the subject]?[line break][line break]YOU MIGHT WANT TO WRITE SOMETHING HERE ABOUT HOW THESE[line break]PARTS ARE RELATED.[line break]"prompt C
the does it makes sense questionhard"DO ALL ASPECTS OF [the subject] MAKE[line break]SENSE TO YOU? DESCRIBE THOSE THAT DO NOT.[line break]""THIS QUESTION IS INTENDED TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU DO NOT[line break]KNOW ABOUT [the subject].[line break][line break]SO, MAKE A LIST OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE UNCLEAR -- THE[line break]BEST WAY TO NEW INSIGHTS.[line break]"prompt A
the general feelings questionhard"HOW DOES THE GENERAL PUBLIC FEEL[line break]ABOUT [the subject]?[line break]""WHAT ARE THE MOST POPULAR OPINIONS REGARDING[line break][the subject]?[line break][line break]IF THERE WERE AN ELECTION ABOUT THIS TOPIC SOMEHOW,[line break]HOW WOULD THE VOTERS RESPOND? PRO? CON? WHY?[line break]"prompt B
the place questionhard"WHAT IS THE MOST LIKELY PLACE FOR[line break][the subject] TO EXIST?[line break]""WHERE SHOULD I GO TO SEE [the subject]?[line break]CAN I GO INSIDE? CAN I GOT OUTSIDE? WHY OR WHY NOT?[line break]"prompt C
the implication questionhard"FILL IN THE BLANK: IF [the subject],[line break]THEN ______________________________________.[line break]""THIS IS A TYPE OF INDUCTION, [first name]. I AM NOT TRYING[line break]TO BE TRICKY. IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOUR TOPIC EXISTS,[line break]THEN OTHER THINGS--FEELINGS, ACTIONS, ETC.--ALSO EXISTS.[line break]TRY MAKING A CONNECTION OR TWO.[line break]"prompt A
the uniformity of effects questionhard"ARE THE RESULTS OF [the subject] USUALLY[line break]THE SAME? DESCRIBE.[line break]""BY 'RESULTS', I MEAN THE 'EFFECTS', YOU MAY HAVE TO DIG[line break]UP A LITTLE HISTORY TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION, OR YOU MAY[line break]HAVE TO PREDICT THE FUTURE. IN OTHER WORDS, CAN THE[line break]FINAL OUTCOMES OF THIS TOPIC BE PREDICTED OVER AND OVER[line break]AGAIN?[line break]"prompt B
the general motivations questionhard"WHAT MOTIVATES PEOPLE TOWARD OR[line break]AGAINST [the subject]?[line break]""SIMPLY, WHAT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL THE WAY THEY DO?[line break]MORAL COMMITMENT? PLEASURE? FEAR? PEER PRESSURE? ETC.[line break]"prompt C
the persuasion questionhard"WHAT WILL MAKE PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR MINDS ABOUT[line break][the subject]?[line break]""WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR MOST PEOPLE TO CHANGE THEIR MINDS[line break]ABOUT [the subject]?[line break][line break]MOST OF THE ANSWERS TO THIS QUESTION HAVE SOMETHING TO DO[line break]WITH A PERSON'S DIRECT INVOLVEMENT WITH A SUBJECT LIKE[line break]YOURS, [the subject].[line break]"prompt A
the uniformity of causes questionhard"ARE THE CAUSES OF [the subject] ALWAYS[line break]THE SAME? DESCRIBE.[line break]""ARE THE ROOTS OF [the subject], FIGURATIVELY[line break]SPEAKING, ALWAYS THE SAME? LOOKING AT THIS MATTER[line break]ANOTHER WAY: COULD YOU DESCRIBE DIFFERENT EARLY[line break]SYMPTOMS? OR IS THERE JUST ONE SYMPTOM?[line break]"prompt B
the incredible questionhard"WHAT'S INCREDIBLE ABOUT [the subject]?[line break]""BY 'INCREDIBLE', I MEAN 'UNBELIEVABLE', 'AMAZING',[line break]'BEYOND HUMAN UNDERSTANDING', 'STRANGER THAN FICTION'.[line break]"prompt C
the nonuniformity of causes questionhard"ARE THE CAUSES OF [the subject] ALWAYS[line break]DIFFERENT? EXPLAIN.[line break]""WHAT ARE SOME OF THE DIFFERENT EXPLANATIONS FOR THE[line break]EXISTENCE OF [the subject]?[line break][line break]IF THERE ARE NONE, WHY? IS THERE[line break]REALLY THAT MUCH AGREEMENT?[line break]"prompt A
the internal contradictions questionhard"WHAT CONTRADICTIONS EXIST IN [the subject]?[line break]""BY 'CONTRADICTIONS', I MEAN 'THOSE MATTERS WHICH DO NOT[line break]BELONG TOGETHER' OR 'KINDS OF IRONY'.[line break][line break]IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT SHOULDN'T BE THERE, BUT IS?[line break]OR (YOU GUESSSED IT), WHAT SHOULD BE A PART OF[line break][the subject], BUT IS NOT.[line break]"prompt B
the known unknowns questionhard"WHAT FACTS ARE YOU UNLIKELY TO KNOW[line break]ABOUT [the subject]?[line break]""I BET YOU ARE SAYING TO YOURSELF, 'HOW SHOULD I KNOW?'[line break][line break]WELL, IF YOU ARE GOING TO WRITE A CONVINCING PAPER ABOUT[line break][the subject], YOU MUST[line break]FIND OUT AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE THOSE AREAS WHICH NEED TO[line break]BE RESEARCHED. RIGHT NOW, I'M ASKING YOU TO PREDICT[line break]WHERE YOU CAN FIND SOME MORE FACTS.[line break]"prompt C
the clarity questionhard"ARE ALL THE FACTS ABOUT [the subject] AS[line break]CLEAR AS YOU WOULD LIKE? DESCRIBE THE AMBIGUITIES.[line break]""WHAT PROBLEMS DO YOU HAVE UNDERSTANDING[line break][the subject] YOURSELF? BY 'AMBIGUITIES', I[line break]MEAN THOSE MIXED FEELINGS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THIS TOPIC.[line break]"prompt A
the better course questionhard"WHAT IS A 'BETTER COURSE' FOR[line break][the subject] TO TAKE? RECOMMENDATIONS?[line break]""BY 'BETTER COURSE', I MEAN FOR YOU TO SUGGEST A BETTER[line break]SOLUTION TO ANY PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH[line break][the subject].[line break][line break]IF YOU EXPECT PEOPLE TO BE CONVINCED BY YOUR ARGUMENT,[line break]YOU MUST OFFER THEM A SOUND SOLUTION.[line break]"prompt B
the worst thing questionhard"WHAT WOULD BE THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN TO[line break][the subject]?[line break]""IF PEOPLE WERE NO LONGER CONCERNED ABOUT[line break][the subject], WOULD THAT BE[line break]THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN? WHY OR WHY NOT?[line break]"prompt C
the best thing questionhard"WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN TO[line break][the subject]?[line break]""IF EVERYONE IN THE WORLD WAS AS CONCERNED ABOUT[line break][the subject] AS YOU ARE,[line break]WOULD THAT BE THE BEST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?[line break]WHY OR WHY NOT?[line break]"prompt A
the previous mistakes questionhard"WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PREVIOUS MISTAKES ABOUT[line break][the subject]?[line break]""SIMPLY, WHAT HAS BEEN WRONG WITH THE WAY[line break][the subject] HAS BEEN HANDLED.[line break]MAYBE 'MISTAKE' IS TOO HARSH A TERM; 'MISTREATMENT' MAY[line break]BE BETTER FOR THIS TOPIC.[line break]"prompt A
the complex induction questionhard"FILL IN THE BLANK: IF [the subject][line break]PLUS ______________, THEN ______________.[line break]""THIS QUESTION ASKS YOU TO CREATE A COMPLICATED[line break]INDUCTION. THINK OF IT IN MATHEMATICAL TERMS:[line break][line break][tab]IF 2 + ? THEN ?[line break][line break]THERE ARE MANY ANSWERS (2+2=4, 2+90=92,....).[line break]"prompt B
the what's inconsistent questionhard"WHAT'S INCONSISTENT ABOUT [the subject]?[line break]PLACES? PEOPLE? ACTIONS? PURPOSES?[line break]""BY 'INCONSISTENT', I MEAN TO SUGGEST THOSE MATTERS[line break]WHICH SEEM 'OUT OF PLACE.'[line break][line break]'INCONSISTENT' MAY ALSO SUGGEST THAT SOME THINGS ABOUT[line break][the subject] CHANGE MORE OFTEN[line break]THAN OTHER THINGS. WHAT MIGHT THEY BE?[line break]"prompt C