eristical

Thân thiện

A student makes an eristical argument during a classroom debate.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Given to disputation for its own sake: Describes a person who is inclined to argue or debate, not necessarily to reach the truth or a resolution, but simply for the pleasure of arguing.
   • Often employing specious arguments: Characterized by using arguments that seem plausible or true but are actually deceptive, fallacious, or misleading.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective:
  • The eristical student would challenge every point the professor made, not to learn but to provoke a reaction.
  • Her eristical nature made committee meetings exhausting, as she would debate even the most trivial details.
  • He avoided eristical discussions, preferring conversations aimed at genuine understanding.

Advanced Usage

• In a philosophical or rhetorical context: The term is often used to describe a style of argumentation focused on winning a debate rather than discovering truth, historically contrasted with dialectical reasoning.
  • Socrates distinguished between dialectical inquiry, which seeks truth, and eristical argument, which seeks victory.

Variants and Related Words

• Eristic (adj/n): The more common form, identical in meaning. Can also be a noun for a person who engages in such arguments or for the art of disputation itself.

  • Noun: He was known as an eristic, always ready for a fight.
  • Noun: The study of eristic was important to the Sophists.

• Eristically (adv): In an eristical manner.

  • He argued eristically, more interested in scoring points than in the topic.

Synonyms

• Argumentative: Inclined to argue.
• Contentious: Causing or likely to cause an argument; quarrelsome.
• Disputatious: Fond of or causing heated arguments.
• Polemical: Relating to strong verbal or written arguments against an opinion or doctrine.

Antonyms

• Conciliatory: Intended or likely to placate or pacify.
• Agreeable: Willing to agree to something.
• Cooperative: Involving mutual assistance in working toward a common goal.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. given to disputation for its own sake and often employing specious arguments

Từ đồng nghĩa

• eristic