dialectic
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
di·a·lec·tic
(dī′ə-lĕk′tĭk)n.1. The art or practice of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments.
2. The process especially associated with Hegel of arriving at the truth by stating a thesis, developing a contradictory antithesis, and combining and resolving them into a coherent synthesis.
3. often dialectics(used with a sing. or pl. verb) The Marxian process of change through the conflict of opposing forces, whereby a given contradiction is characterized by a primary and a secondary aspect, the secondary succumbing to the primary, which is then transformed into an aspect of a new contradiction.
4. dialectics(used with a sing. verb) A method of argument or exposition that systematically weighs contradictory facts or ideas with a view to the resolution of their real or apparent contradictions.
5. The contradiction between two conflicting forces viewed as the determining factor in their continuing interaction.
[Middle English dialetik, from Old French dialetique, from Latin dialectica, logic, from Greek dialektikē (tekhnē), (art) of debate, feminine of dialektikos, from dialektos, speech, conversation; see dialect.]
di′a·lec′ti·cal, di′a·lec′tic adj.
di′a·lec′ti·cal·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
dialectic
(ˌdaɪəˈlɛktɪk) n1. (Philosophy) disputation or debate, esp intended to resolve differences between two views rather than to establish one of them as true
2. (Philosophy)
philosophy a. the conversational Socratic method of argument
b. (in Plato) the highest study, that of the Forms
3. (Philosophy) (in the writings of Kant) the exposure of the contradictions implicit in applying empirical concepts beyond the limits of experience
adj (Logic) of or relating to logical disputation
[C17: from Latin dialectica, from Greek dialektikē (tekhnē) (the art) of argument; see dialect]
ˌdialecˈtician n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
di•a•lec•tic
(ˌdaɪ əˈlɛk tɪk)
adj. Also, dialectical. 1. pertaining to or of the nature of logical argumentation.
n. 3. the art or practice of debate or conversation by which the truth of a theory or opinion is arrived at logically.
4. logical argumentation.
6. dialectics, (often used with a sing. v.) the arguments or bases of dialectical materialism, including the elevation of matter over mind and a constantly changing reality with a material basis.
7. the juxtaposition or interaction of conflicting ideas, forces, etc.
[1350–1400; (< Anglo-French) < Latin
dialectica < Greek
dialektikḗ (téchnē) argumentative (art), feminine of
dialektikós. See
dialect,
-ic]
di`a•lec′ti•cal•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
dialectic
In Greek philosophy, the art of testing whether assertions hold true. In Hegel, a system of logic proceeding from thesis to antithesis to synthesis.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited