 In addition to the more heterogenous use of the word ‘topos’ in the Rhetoric (which might originate from Aristotle’s attempt to combine his own dialectical use of the term with more traditional rhetorical uses), there is the problem of the controversial distinction in Rhet. I.2, 1358a2–35 between topoi (which are understood to be general/common) on the one hand and certain specific devices (idia) on the other. While Aristotle seems inclined to call the general or common topoi simply ‘topoi’, he uses several names for the opposing, specific items (e.g. idiai protaseis, idia, eidê). This distinction has a major impact on the structure of the Rhetoric as a whole (see above  § 2),  in that it is responsible for the occurence of ‘specific’ instructions, premises, ‘topoi’ or whatever in the bulk of the first book and the occurence of ‘common’ topoi in the second part of the second book. Traditionally, this distinction has been understood as a division between general/common topoi on the one hand and specific topoi on the other (the traditional view has been defended among others by Cope 1877 and Rapp 2002). However, it is unclear (i) what the opposition between general/common and specific refers to, (ii) where in the Rhetoric the common topoi can be found and (iii) whether the distinction is meant to be a distinction between topoi in the first place, since even though Aristotle distinguishes topoi that are common from specific (idia) rhetorical devices, he never explicitly uses the phrase ‘specific topoi’, as one might expect on the traditional reading.