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Single Idea 2677

[catalogued under 2. Reason / C. Styles of Reason / 1. Dialectic]

Full Idea

Dialectical arguments are those which, starting from generally accepted opinions, reason to establish a contradiction.

Clarification

'Dialectic' is the impersonal pursuit of truth

Gist of Idea

Dialectic aims to start from generally accepted opinions, and lead to a contradiction

Source

Aristotle (Sophistical Refutations [c.331 BCE], 165b03)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Sophistical Refutations, On the Cosmos etc (III)', ed/tr. Forster,E.S. /Furley,D.J. [Harvard Loeb 1955], p.15