Invention

Invention

Definition: The process of developing arguments and discovering the means of persuasion for a given topic. 

• Invention is one of the five canons of classical rhetoric, alongside arrangement, style, memory, and delivery.

• The goal of invention is to find the best ways to convince or inform an audience, focusing on generating ideas and strategies for effective communication.

Key Aspects of Invention

1. Discovery of Arguments

   • Invention involves finding and generating arguments that can support your position. This includes identifying the most compelling evidence, examples, and reasons to persuade your audience.

2. Use of Common and Special Topics

   • Common Topics: These are general categories or lines of argument that can be applied to any subject. Aristotle identified several common topics, such as past and future fact (conjecture), greater or lesser (degree), and possible or impossible (possibility).

   • Special Topics: These are specific to particular fields or disciplines, such as law, politics, or ethics. They provide more focused arguments related to the subject matter.

3. Questioning and Exploration

   • Invention often involves asking a series of questions to explore the topic thoroughly. These questions help in examining different aspects and perspectives, ensuring a comprehensive understanding and argumentation.

The Importance of Invention

• Creativity and Critical Thinking: Invention encourages creativity and critical thinking, helping rhetoricians to develop innovative and effective arguments.

• Foundation for Persuasion: It provides the foundation for building persuasive and compelling messages.

• Comprehensive Understanding: Thorough exploration of a topic ensures a well-rounded understanding, making the argument more robust and convincing.

Methods of Invention

1. Stasis Theory

   • Stasis theory involves identifying the main points of contention in a debate. It asks four key questions:

     1. Fact: What happened?

     2. Definition: What is the nature of the issue?

     3. Quality: What is the seriousness or significance of the issue?

     4. Policy: What should be done about it?

2. Common & Special Topics

   • 2. • The early Greeks, including Sophists and Aristotle, developed a series of questions known as "common topics" and "special topics" to help students and rhetors explore a subject and find all available means of persuasion. 

Common Topics

1. Past/Future Fact (Conjecture):

   • Examining what has occurred or what will occur.

   • Note that the word fact is misleading. The Greeks meant "educated guesses" about something that probably took place or might take place in the future.

   • Example: "Based on past data, we predict the market will grow next year."

2. Greater/Lesser (Degree):

   • Comparing the significance or magnitude of different things.

   • Example: "Recycling has a greater environmental impact than reducing energy consumption."

3. Possible/Impossible (Possibility):

   • Determining what is possible or impossible.

   • Example: "It is possible to reduce emissions with current technology."

Modernized Topics & Questions

Contemporary rhetoricians use these topics as a model and often divide subjects into four categories: objects, events, abstract concepts, and propositions. This approach helps explore material by asking specific questions about each aspect, preventing loss of details. One may thoroughly explore and develop a topic by systematically addressing the questions below.

Special topics 

Special topics in rhetoric refer to categories of arguments that are specific to particular fields or disciplines. These topics help rhetoricians generate arguments that are tailored to the unique aspects of those fields. Here are examples of special topics in various areas:

Controversy, Dispute, or Disagreement

Research & Discovery

Evidence

Claim