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eristic

 
Dictionary: e·ris·tic   (ĭ-rĭs'tĭk) pronunciation also e·ris·ti·cal
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(-tĭ-kəl)
adj.
Given to or characterized by disputatious, often specious argument.

n.
  1. One given to or expert in dispute or argument.
  2. The art or practice of disputation and polemics.

[Greek eristikos, from erizein, to wrangle, quarrel, from eris, erid-, strife.]


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Wordsmith Words: eristic
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(i-RIS-tik)

adjective
Characterized by controversy or disputes.

noun
1. One who engages in arguments or disputes; a controversialist.
2. The art of disputation.

Etymology
From Greek eristikos, from erizein (to wrangle), from eris (strife). Eris was the goddess of discord in Greek mythology. The Romans called her Discordia.

Usage
"Finally, Truth and Progress exhibits both the dazzle and idiosyncrasy of Rorty's literary style and eristic habits--the sharp insider wit, the hyperactive thumb-nailing of other thinkers to hawk fresh images of their thought ..." — Carlin Romano; Books & the Arts: Rortyism for Beginners; The Nation (New York); Jul 27, 1998.

"Endlessly questioning nuances of meaning in front of exasperated colleagues, or calling attention to inappropriate administrative power, might make you the star of the show in Plato's Academy or Aristotle's Lyceum. But is that too obnoxiously eristic for the faculty meeting, a ritual most characterized by the common desire of its participants to see it end promptly, so everyone can go home and forget about disliked colleagues?" — Carlin Romano; On Collegiality, College Style; The Chronicle of Higher Education (Washington, DC); May 26, 2000.

Philosophy Dictionary: eristic
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(Greek, conflict) Reasoning that aims not at truth but at victory over an opponent or at making a weaker position prevail.

Obscure Words: eristic
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pertaining to dispute, argument or controversy; argumentative, controversial
Wikipedia: Eristic
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Eristic, from the ancient Greek word Eris meaning wrangle or strife, often refers to a type of dialogue or argument where the participants do not have any reasonable goal. The aim is to win the argument, not to potentially discover a true or probable answer to any specific question or topic. Eristic dialogue is arguing for the sake of conflict as opposed to the seeking of truth.

Contents

Philosophical Eristic

Plato often contrasted this type of dialogue with the dialectical method and other more reasonable and logical methods (e.g., at Republic 454a). In the dialogue Euthydemus, Plato satirizes eristic.

Different from Plato, Schopenhauer considers that only logic pursues truth. For him, dialectic, sophistry and eristic have no objective truth in view, but only the appearance of it, and pay no regard to truth itself because it aims at victory. He names these three last methods as "eristic dialectic"[1]

According to Schopenhauer, Eristic Dialectic is mainly concerned to tabulate and analyze dishonest stratagems[2], in order that in a real debate they may be at once recognized and defeated. It is for this very reason that Eristic Dialectic must admittedly take victory, and not objective truth, for its aim and purpose.

Argumentation theory

Argumentation theory is a field of study that asks critical questions about eristic arguments and the other types of dialogue.

Notes

  1. ^ Controversial Dialectic on CoolHaus.de accessed at January 19, 2008
  2. ^ In his Dialectica Eristica Schopenhauer presents 38 eristic stratagems

References

Schopenhauer, Arthur. Eristische Dialektik,1830.

External links

See also


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 
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Euthydemus (dialogue)
Euthydemos
Bryson of Achaea

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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
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Thesaurus. Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary Copyright © 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Philosophy Dictionary. The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy. Copyright © 1994, 1996, 2005 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.  Read more
Obscure Words. © 2008 by Michael A. Fischer http://home.comcast.net/~wwftd.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Eristic".  Read more