[Milton-L] Query about 4 part arguments

[Jameela Lares]

Though Aristotle thought that an argument should only need two parts, thesis and
proof, he also concedes that the nature of rhetoric requires that an argument at
least have four parts:  an introduction, an advanced thesis, proofs, and a
conclusion (Art of Rhetoric 3.13-14). The best person I know to ask about the
reception of Aristotle in Renaissance England is Larry Green, who is a member
of this list but may not be reading it consistently, so I am copying him in on
this response.  See also his standard work, John Rainolds's Oxford Lectures on
Rhetoric (U of Delaware P, 1986), as well as Green and Murphy, Renaissance
Rhetoric:  Short-Title Catalogue 1460-1700 (Ashgate, 2006).

Jameela

Quoting Boyd M Berry/FS/VCU <bberry at vcu.edu>:

> I'm wondering what sage suggestions the Milton-L list has concerning Milton's
> clear fondness, in prose tracts, for 4 part arguments.  Is there a biblical
> or exegetical tradition?  A rhetorical tradition?  Some other kind of
> tradition?  I recall 3 part arguments and 5 part arguments, and I lack
> severely in rhetorical lore.  Any help out there? Boyd M. Berry


-- 
Jameela Lares, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of English
The University of Southern Mississippi
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