dialectic

American  

[dahy-uh-lek-tik] / ˌdaɪ əˈlɛk tɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or of the nature of logical argumentation.

2. dialectal.

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noun

1. the art or practice of logical discussion as employed in investigating the truth of a theory or opinion.

2. logical argumentation.

3. Often dialectics.

   1. logic or any of its branches.

   2. any formal system of reasoning or thought.

4. Hegelian dialectic.

5. (often used with a singular verb) dialectics, the arguments or bases of dialectical materialism, including the elevation of matter over mind and a constantly changing reality with a material basis.

6. (in Kantian epistemology) a fallacious metaphysical system arising from the attribution of objective reality to the perceptions by the mind of external objects.

7. the juxtaposition or interaction of conflicting ideas, forces, etc.

dialectic British  

/ ˌdaɪəˈlɛktɪk /

noun

1. disputation or debate, esp intended to resolve differences between two views rather than to establish one of them as true

2. philosophy

   1. the conversational Socratic method of argument

   2. (in Plato) the highest study, that of the Forms

3. (in the writings of Kant) the exposure of the contradictions implicit in applying empirical concepts beyond the limits of experience

4. philosophy the process of reconciliation of contradiction either of beliefs or in historical processes See also Hegelian dialectic dialectical materialism

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adjective

1. of or relating to logical disputation

Other Word Forms

• dialectically
  adverb
• dialectician
  noun
• nondialectic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of dialectic

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (from Anglo-French ), from Latin dialectica, from Greek dialektikḗ (téchnē) “argumentative (art),” feminine of dialektikós; see dialect, -ic

Explanation

Dialectic is a formal system of reasoning that arrives at the truth through the exchange of logical arguments. Dialectic is a process of examining an issue using very careful steps. A "thesis," or argument, is offered, followed by the "antithesis," or counterargument. The goal is to extract the best points from each of these to form a "synthesis." This in turn is used as a new argument, followed by counterargument, and the process continues, hopefully getting closer and closer to the truth, or at least something everyone can agree upon.

Example Sentences

Dialectic, a method for discovering truth through dialogue, involves an exchange of ideas with the goal of arriving at a position that more accurately reflects the truth.

From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022

I don’t know if Chung has read Shulamith Firestone, the radical feminist author of “The Dialectic of Sex,” who saw technology as a potential tool of liberation.

From Washington Post • Jun. 15, 2022

Against Our Will finally came out in 1975, five long years after the first of the key texts of women’s liberation: Kate Millett’s Sexual Politics and Shulamith Firestone’s The Dialectic of Sex.

From The Guardian • Feb. 18, 2018

Another Dialectic fund is also up for the year after recent gains.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 16, 2015

Though Weisse was convinced of the truth of Hegel’s Dialectic Method, he often differed from him in its application.

From My Autobiography A Fragment by Müller, F. Max (Friedrich Max)