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Single Idea 2130

[filed under theme 2. Reason / C. Styles of Reason / 3. Eristic ]

Full Idea

People often think they are practising dialectic when they are practising eristic; this is because of their inability to conduct the enquiry by dividing the subject-matter into its various aspects.

Clarification

'Eristic' is argument as a contest, but 'dialectic' is co-operation in pursuit of truth

Gist of Idea

People often merely practice eristic instead of dialectic, because they don't analyse the subject-matter

Source

Plato (The Republic [c.374 BCE], 454a)

Book Ref

Plato: 'Republic', ed/tr. Waterfield,Robin [OUP 1993], p.165


The 6 ideas with the same theme [argument as a competition rather than for truth]:

People often merely practice eristic instead of dialectic, because they don't analyse the subject-matter [Plato]
Eristic discussion is aggressive, but dialectic aims to help one's companions in discussion [Plato]
Competitive argument aims at refutation, fallacy, paradox, solecism or repetition [Aristotle]
If you beat me in argument, does that mean you are right? [Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)]
Rational certainty may be victory in argument rather than knowledge of facts [Rorty]
'Eris' is the divinity of conflict, the opposite of Philia, the god of friendship [Deleuze/Guattari]