Endoxa

Endoxa are reputable opinions: propositions accepted by all, by most, or by recognized authorities. In Aristotelian dialectic, they provide starting points for inquiry, not final guarantees of truth [aristotle-logic-sep].

The methodological role of endoxa is twofold:

1. They provide shared premises that make argument possible.
2. They provide targets for criticism, refinement, or rejection when contradictions or counter-cases appear.

Using endoxa means beginning from historically available judgment while keeping those judgments revisable through argument.

¶Related terms

• Dialectics
• Epistemology
• Historicization

¶Sources

• Aristotle’s Logic (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)