dialectical

Also found in: Thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

Related to dialectical: dialectical materialism, Dialectical behavior therapy

di·a·lec·tic

(dī′ə-lĕk′tĭk)

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.

dialectical

(ˌdaɪəˈlɛktɪkəl)

adj

(Philosophy) of or relating to dialectic or dialectics

ˌdiaˈlectically adv

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.

2. dialectal.

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.

5. Hegelian dialectic.

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.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Adj.

dialectical - of or relating to or employing dialectic; "the dialectical method"

dialectic

Translations

dialettico

dialectical

[ˌdaɪəˈlektɪkəl]

A. ADJ → dialéctico

B. CPD dialectical materialism N → materialismo m dialéctico

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

dialectical

adj → dialektisch; dialectical materialism → dialektischer Materialismus

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

dialectical

[ˌdaɪəˈlɛktɪk/əl] adj → dialettico/a

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

References in classic literature ?

Things that sound contradictory should be examined by the same rules as in dialectical refutation whether the same thing is meant, in the same relation, and in the same sense.

View in context

Casaubon; digestion was made difficult by the interference of citations, or by the rivalry of dialectical phrases ringing against each other in his brain.

View in context

Socrates is of opinion that the more abstract or dialectical definition of figure is far better.

View in context

For the rest, he thought the dialectical part of his argument of little worth; he saw only too clearly that the result of these ecstatic moments was stupefaction, mental darkness, idiocy.

View in context

Relativistic and dialectical thought in three adult age-groups.

Postformal thinking and creativity among late adolescents: a post-Piagetian approach

Linehan, much less something called dialectical behavior therapy.

New beginnings; Behavior therapy helping patients leave institutional life behind

CHICAGO -- A modified form of dialectical behavioral therapy may be an effective and economical intervention for reducing anger and aggression among prison and jail inmates, Dr.

Modified DBT reduces inmates' anger and aggression

The sections dealing with preparation and practice, obviously garnered from years of teaching and playing experience, could easily form the basis of useful group discussions, as could the sections dealing with what might be termed "post-performance stress syndrome." This self-styled primer is particularly good at dealing with the challenges of performance as a dialectical process that cannot be reduced to a simple formula for success--a process that requires constant adjustment, as well as a high tolerance for frustration and disappointment.

Mastering the Art of Performance: A Primer for Musicians

Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, defended Par Robertson's claim that Muslims are "motivated by demonic power." Mohler said on Fox News's The O'Reilly Factor, "Well, I would have to say as a Christian that I believe any belief system, any worldview, whether it's Zen Buddhism or Hinduism or dialectical materialism, for that matter, Marxism, that keeps persons captive and keeps them from coming to faith in Lord Jesus Christ, yes, is a demonstration of satanic power."

Satanic Zen

However, though she does not specify the dialectical relationship between the two, she arrives at the same conclusion.

Laetitia Bucaille. Growing up Palestinian: Israeli Occupation and the Intifada Generation

The two new installments in Rome expanded the gaze from a space of private, claustrophobic, and definitive imprisonment to a historical, dialectical, and open space--and to a sort of hope.

Alfredo Jaar: Macro; Studio Stefania Miscetti

In a sense, C.'s discussion of Isaiah is a test case for trying to understand the church's use of the Old Testament in general, and he identifies the following characteristics of the church's approach: the authority of scripture, use of both literal and spiritual senses, divine and human authorship, christological content, and the dialectical nature of history.