I have a feeling my high school social studies definition is woefully inadequate and laughably oversimplified.
― fields of salmon (fieldsofsalmon), Thursday, 17 July 2003 21:06 (twenty-two years ago)
1. a. The art of critical examination into the truth of an opinion; the investigation of truth by discussion: in earlier English use, a synonym of LOGIC as applied to formal rhetorical reasoning; logical argumentation or disputation.
Originally, the art of reasoning or disputation by question and answer, ‘invented’, according to Aristotle, by Zeno of Elea, and scientifically developed by Plato, by whom the term was used in two senses, (a) the art of definition or discrimination of ‘ideas’, (b) the science which views the inter-relation of the ideas in the light of a single principle ‘the good’; corresponding broadly to logic and metaphysic. By Aristotle the term was confined to the method of probable reasoning, as opposed to the demonstrative method of science. With the Stoics, rhetoric and dialectic formed the two branches of , logic, in their application of the term; and down through the Middle Ages dialectica was the regular name of what is now called ‘logic’, in which sense accordingly dialectic and dialectics were first used in English.
b. Also in pl. form dialectics (cf. mathematics).
2. In modern Philosophy: Specifically applied by Kant to the criticism which shows the mutually contradictory character of the principles of science, when they are employed to determine objects beyond the limits of experience (i.e. the soul, the world, God); by Hegel (who denies that such contradictions are ultimately irreconcilable) the term is applied (a) to the process of thought by which such contradictions are seen to merge themselves in a higher truth that comprehends them; and (b) to the world-process, which, being in his view but the thought-process on its objective side, develops similarly by a continuous unification of opposites.
b. In more general use, the existence or working of opposing forces, tendencies, etc. Also in pl. form (const. sing. vb.).
― amateurist (amateurist), Thursday, 17 July 2003 21:11 (twenty-two years ago)
It's like in pro wrestling where two guys fight but eventually end up on the same side.
― teeny (teeny), Thursday, 17 July 2003 21:15 (twenty-two years ago)
Antony Flew's
Dictionary Of Philosophy, revised 2nd Ed., paraphrased and summarized by yrs t.:
1. (Socratic) Socrates' conversational method of argument
2. (Platonic) In Republic, it means the supreme kind of knowledge which explains everything
3. (Aristotelian) Reasoning from premises that are generally accepted
4. (Kantian) Bullshit reasoning in fancy dress
5. (Hegelian) The logical pattern that thought must follow
6. (Marxist) Like Hegel, but distinguishing thought's dialectic from the dialectic of reality instead of lumping it together
― Millar (Millar), Thursday, 17 July 2003 21:15 (twenty-two years ago)
no.4 is a bit cheeky, millar: what's flew got against kant?
― mark s (mark s), Thursday, 17 July 2003 21:19 (twenty-two years ago)
now you've got it, s1utsky!
― teeny (teeny), Thursday, 17 July 2003 21:19 (twenty-two years ago)
I know "*sigh*" but the OED definitions are quite clear and good, I think.
― amateurist (amateurist), Thursday, 17 July 2003 21:20 (twenty-two years ago)
that's what Kant means when he sez 'dialectic' if Kant's brain sounded like mine, mark, not a comment on Kant's definition
― Millar (Millar), Thursday, 17 July 2003 21:26 (twenty-two years ago)
dialectic:
A: blah
B: nu-huh
A: you mean?
B: uh-huh
A: ok, but...
― mark s (mark s), Thursday, 17 July 2003 21:30 (twenty-two years ago)
thirteen years pass...
Jute Gyte [Started by starkiller based god (Treeship) in January 2016, last updated thirty-nine seconds ago by imago on I Love Music] 18 new answers
HAIM [Started by piscesx in November 2012, last updated three minutes ago by ToddBonzalez (BradNelson) on I Love Music] 25 new answers
― imago, Friday, 7 July 2017 19:07 (eight years ago)