Single Idea 2130

[catalogued under 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.371 BCE], 454a)

Book Reference

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