dialectic

dialectic
(Gk., dialektikē, the art of conversation or debate) Most fundamentally, the process of reasoning to obtain truth and knowledge on any topic. According to the different views of this process, different conceptions of dialectic emerge. Thus in the Socratic method dialectic is the process of eliciting the truth by means of questions aimed at opening out what is already implicitly known, or at exposing the contradictions and muddles of an opponent's position. In the middle dialogues of Plato, however, it becomes the total process of enlightenment, whereby the philosopher is educated so as to achieve knowledge of the supreme good, the form of the Good. For Aristotle, dialectic is any rational inference based on probable premises. In Kant, dialectic is the ‘logic of illusion’, or the misuse of logic to deliver the appearance of solid belief. It is one of the jobs of true philosophy to reveal the places where reason transgresses its proper boundaries, producing the illusions of transcendental metaphysics (see antinomy, paralogism ). In Hegel, dialectic refers to the necessary process that makes up progress in both thought and the world (which are identified in Hegel's idealism, although the idea that processes in the world unfold in a way that mirrors the processes of reason is as old as Heraclitus ). The process is one of overcoming the contradiction between thesis and antithesis, by means of synthesis; the synthesis in turn becomes contradicted, and the process repeats itself until final perfection is reached. See also dialectical materialism.

Philosophy dictionary. . 2011.

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  • Dialectic — • Greek dialektike (techne or methodos), the dialectic art or method, from dialegomai I converse, discuss, dispute; as noun also dialectics; as adjective, dialectical Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Dialectic     Dialectic …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • dialectic — DIALÉCTIC, Ă, dialectici, ce, s.f., adj. 1. s.f. Teorie generală a principiilor devenirii realităţii, a dezvoltării naturii, societăţii şi gândirii; teorie şi metodă generală de cunoaştere a realităţii şi de transformare revoluţionară a acesteia …   Dicționar Român

  • Dialectic — Di a*lec tic, n. Same as {Dialectics}. [1913 Webster] Plato placed his dialectic above all sciences. Liddell & Scott …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • dialectic — UK US /ˌdaɪəˈlektɪk/ adjective [before noun] ► MANAGEMENT, MEETINGS using questions and answers as a method of examining something or of finding a solution to a problem: »Conflict and disagreement are a necessary part of a dialectic approach …   Financial and business terms

  • dialectic — [adj] logical, rational analytic, argumentative, controversial, dialectical, persuasive, polemical, rationalistic; concept 529 Ant. illogical, irrational dialectic [n] logic, reasoning argumentation, contention, debate, deduction, discussion,… …   New thesaurus

  • dialectic — Philosophy ► NOUN (also dialectics) (usu. treated as sing. ) 1) the investigation of the truth of opinions, especially by logical discussion. 2) enquiry into metaphysical contradictions and their solutions. 3) the existence or action of opposing… …   English terms dictionary

  • dialectic — [dī΄ə lek′tik] n. [ME dialetik < OFr dialetique < L dialectica (ars) < Gr dialektikē (technē), the dialectic (art) < dialektikos: see DIALECT] 1. [often pl.] the art or practice of examining opinions or ideas logically, often by the… …   English World dictionary

  • Dialectic — Di a*lec tic, Dialectical Di a*lec tic*al, a. [L. dialecticus, Gr. ?: cf. F. dialectique. See {Dialect}.] 1. Pertaining to dialectics; logical; argumental. [1913 Webster] 2. Pertaining to a dialect or to dialects. Earle. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • dialectic — I noun applied logic, apprehension, argumentation, brainwork, cerebration, chain of reasoning, cogitation, concluding, consideration, contemplation, deducing, deduction, deliberation, deriving, discursive reasoning, drawing conclusions, force of… …   Law dictionary

  • dialectic — dialectic, dialectical materialism See Engels , FRIEDRICH; Gurvitch, Georges; Hegel , G. W. F.; historical materialism ; Marx , Karl; materialism …   Dictionary of sociology

  • dialectic — (n.) 1580s, earlier dialatik (late 14c.), from O.Fr. dialectique (12c.), from L. dialectica, from Gk. dialektike (techne) (art of) philosophical discussion or discourse, fem. of dialektikos of conversation, discourse, from dialektos discourse,… …   Etymology dictionary

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