ARGUMENT, Argumentum, in Philosophy, as defined by Cicero, is some probable Matter alleged to gain Belief. See PROBABILITY, BELIEF, etc. Others, somewhat more scientifically, define Argument, a Medium, from whose Connection with two Extremes, the Connection of the two Extremes themselves is inferred. See MEDIUM and EXTREME.
Arguments are divided, with regard to their Source, into those fetched from Reason, and those from Authority. See REASON and AUTHORITY. The Logicians also divide their Arguments, with regard to their Form, into Syllogisms, Enthymemes, Inductions, etc. See SYLLOGISM, ENTHYMEME, etc.
An Argument in Form,is a Syllogism made according to the strict Rules of Logic. According to Aristotle, the Enthymeme is the Argument of Rhetoric, as the Syllogism is that of Logic. Rhetoric is defined the Art of finding Arguments adapted to persuade, or gain Belief. See RHETORIC, INVENTION, PERSUASION, etc. The Rhetoricians divide Arguments with respect to the Places they are drawn from, into intrinsic or artificial; and extrinsic or inartificial, or remote. See PLACE, AMPLIFICATION, etc. The first, are the proper Invention of him who speaks; of which there are several Kinds, viz. Definition, Distribution, Genus, and Species, Form, Similitude, Dissimilitude, Comparison, Repugnancy, Adjuncts, Antecedents, Consequents, Causes, and Effects. See each in its Place, Definition, Distribution, Genus, etc. To these some add two other Places of Argument, viz. the Manners, and the Passions. See MANNERS and PASSIONS. The second, are borrowed from abroad, and only applied by the Orator to the Point in hand; such are Laws, common Report, Books, Oaths, Torture, and Witnesses. See LAW, OATH, TORTURE, etc.
A late Author divides the Places or general Heads of Arguments, with regard to their End, into those intended to persuade or dissuade, which are chiefly drawn from the Considerations of Profit, Honour, and Equity: See PERSUASION. Those intended to praise, or dispraise; see PANEGYRIC. And those intended to accuse or defend; see ACCUSATION, DEFENCE, CONTESTATION, CONFIRMATION, VINDICATION, etc. Argument is also a kind of Syllabus, or Abridgement of the Subject of a Book, History, Comedy, or the like. We have almost lost the original Use of Prologues, which was to give the Argument of the Play. See PROLOGUE.
Argument,in Astronomy, is an Arch whereby we seek another unknown Arch proportional to the first. See ARC.
Argument of Inclination,is an Arch of the Orbit, intercepted between the ascending Node, and the Place of the Planet from the Sun, numbered according to the Succession of the Signs. See INCLINATION.
Argument of the Moon’s Latitude,is her Distance from the Node. See NODE.
The same Term is sometimes also used for the Distance of the Moon’s true Place, from the Sun’s true Place. See PLACE. By this we find the Quantity of the real Obscuration in Eclipses, or how many Digits are darkened. See ECLIPSE.
Argument of the Moon's Menstrual Longitude,is an Arch of her Eccentric, L.P. (Zab. Astronomy, Fig. 32) intercepted between her true Place once equated L; and a right Line P Q, drawn through the Centre of the Eccentric B, parallel to the Menstrual Line of the Apsides.
the annual Argument of Longitude,is the Angle DAH.
