The art of controversy - HEC - UNIL

The art of controversy Lecture #0 How to be always right… Dr. Marc Laperrouza University of Lausanne (UNIL) 2012-2013 Autumn semester

Two different things •  Logic [Greek: logizesthai], “to think over, to consider, to calculate” è science of thought, or the science of the process of pure reason, should be capable of being constructed à priori •  Dialectic [Greek: dialegesthai], “to converse” ècan be constructed only à posteriori Controversial dialec/c is the art of dispu/ng, and of dispu/ng in such a way as to hold one’s own, whether one is in the right or the wrong—per fas et nefas 2

CwC00 The art of controversy 18/09/2012

Basis of dialectic •  Two modes of refuting a thesis and two courses that we may pursue: •  Modes: ad rem and at hominem •  Courses: direct and indirect refutation –  Direct admits a two-fold procedure: •  The reasons for the statement are false •  Admit the reasons or premises, but show that the statement does not follow from them

–  Direct uses either the diversion or the instance (example of the contrary) 3


Some stratagems (1/2) •  The extension è carry your opponent’s proposition beyond its natural limits (exaggerate…) – the more general a statement becomes, the more numerous are the objections to which it is open •  The dispersion è if you want to draw a conclusion, you must not let it be foreseen, but get the premises admitted one by one, unobserved, mingling them in your talk •  The distortion è state a false syllogism 4


Some stratagems (2/2) •  The irritation è making your opponent angry; for when he is angry he is incapable of judging aright, and perceiving where his advantage lies •  The inconsistence è try to see whether your opponent’s proposition is not in some way—if needs be, only apparently— inconsistent with some other proposition which he has made or admitted •  The suspicion è link to some odious category •  The will è instead of working on opponent’s intellect by argument, work on his will by motive 5


Find out more •  Schopenhauer, A., D. L. Miermont, et al. (1998). L'Art d'avoir toujours raison. Paris, Ed. Mille et une nuits. •  Online version (in English): http://www2.hn.psu.edu/faculty/jmanis/ schopenhauer/Schopenhauer-5.pdf

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