Commonplaces - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
Commonplaces, also known as topoi, loci communes, or common topics, are formulas for constructing arguments central to both rhetoric and dialectic, often misunderstood as mere platitudes yet functioning as potent repositories of shared knowledge and cultural assumptions. These conceptual locations, far from being sites of mundane thought, serve as dynamic catalysts for invention, memory, and persuasion, challenging the notion of originality in thought and expression. The earliest explicit articulation of commonplaces is attributed to Aristotle in the 4th century BCE, particularly in his Topics and Rhetoric. In these works, Aristotle outlines a systematic approach to argumentation, emphasizing the use of "places" as mental prompts to generate arguments appropriate to various subjects. Cicero, a central figure in Roman rhetoric, further developed this concept in his writings, advocating for the systematic collection and organization of commonplace arguments as essential tools for orators. Subsequent figures like Quintilian, in his Institutio Oratoria, solidified the commonplace as a cornerstone of rhetorical education, influencing generations of thinkers and speakers during the Roman Empire and beyond. The historical backdrop involved the rise of democracy in Athens and the sophisticated legal and political arenas of Rome that necessitate skilled orators and thinkers.
Throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the study and application of commonplaces flourished; Erasmus's De Copia (1512) became a seminal text, emphasizing their role in amplifying and enriching discourse. During this period, commonplace books emerged as personal collections of quotations, observations, and arguments organized by topic, exemplified by those kept by figures like John Locke. The Enlightenment witnessed a shift as emphasis moved to original thought and empirical observation, leading to a decline in the explicit use of commonplaces. Yet, the underlying principles persisted, subtly shaping argumentation and persuasive strategies. Modern cognitive science recognizes echoes of commonplace thinking in heuristics and cognitive frameworks, while experimental philosophy considers some concepts of rhetoric as an “intuition pump”. Figures like Peter Singer and Judith Jarvis Thomson use thought experiments (some would call them “intuition pumps”) to explore philosophical concepts. The trolley problem has become a common tool for discussing utilitarianism and deontology.
Today, the legacy of commonplaces endures, albeit often unrecognized. In contemporary rhetoric, argumentation theory, and even artificial intelligence, the underlying principles of identifying and utilizing shared assumptions remain pivotal. Commonplaces manifest in modern discourse through stock arguments, narrative tropes, and culturally ingrained assumptions. The enduring mystique of commonplaces lies in their paradoxical nature—simultaneously ubiquitous and invisible, shaping the boundaries of thought while remaining largely unacknowledged. What unspoken commonplaces shape our present-day debates and persuasions, and how do they subtly dictate the trajectory of our collective reasoning?