ARGUMENT (Lat. argumentum), in logic, means properly the ground or premise on which a conclusion is rested; popularly, it is applied to a series of arguments, or to a controversy. Argumentation is reasoning put into regular with a view to con vince or silence an objector. Logicians have given distinctive names to various kinds of arguments. Thus, we have the argumentum ad hominem, which is no real proof, but only an appeal to the known prepossessions or admissions of the persons addressed. In this style, when a man upholds one method of fraud, he may, by an appeal to his con sistency, be driven to uphold another. The A. ad veritatem, again, has no regard to any thing save objective truth. Next we have the A. e eonsensu gentium, or an appeal to the common belief of mankind, which, of course, may be used to prove or disprove any thing. The A. a tuto rests upon the supposed safety or prudence of adopting a certain conclusion. It is sometimes used by Roman Catholics against Protestants in the follow ing form: Protestants teach that salvation is possible in any church; this is denied by Catholics; therefore, it is safer to belong to the Catholic church, as even the Protestant admits that a man may be saved in that church. Lastly, the argumentum a baculo (or
use of the cudgel), though objectionable, is concise in its style, and has settled many controversies.
AR'GlIS, the son of Zeus and Nine, succeeded Phoroneus in the government of the Peloponnesus, which took from him its name of Argos, as did also the territory of Argolis.—A., surnamed Panoptes (all-seeing), had one hundred eyes, some of which were always awake. He was enormously strong, and, on account of the wonderful exploits he performed, Juno appointed him to watch over Io, transformed into a cow. Mercury being commissioned by Zeus to carry of the cow, slew A. by stoning him; or, as Ovid says, first charmed him to sleep by playing on the flute, and then beheaded him. Juno used the eyes of A. to decorate the peacock's the builder of the ship Argo (see ARGONAUTS).