Dialectic was one of the seven liberal arts in the Renaissance.

Dialectical

argumentation by means of opposing one idea with contrasting views to uncover contradictions and set them in bold relief.

Force field lines in a magnetic north and south poles.

In any belief system by analogy, for example, consider these dichotomies between opposites:
faith	versus	doubt
rational	versus	observable
factual	versus	fictional

These are dialectical opposites.

from dialectic, dialect, dialectical method

Greek meaning: The art of argument. Aristotle

di [two] + lect [spoken] = dialektos ‘discourse, way of speaking,’

For example see Murray Gell Mann's division of the world into two opposing systems.

Dialectic as a form of argument is at the heart of the legal process, the medical approach to diagnosis, and the formal debate structure.

meaning opposites, or contrary ideas

Literally:

practice of logical discussion as a means of examining critically the truth of a theory or opinion by setting out contradictions by means of contrasting a premise with its opposite idea.

Dialectic of Solitude, Octavio Paz.

Figuratively:

A means of presenting contradictions as in photos or painting contrasts to bring out the desired image and reveal the essential qualities underlying any complex or simple subjects. Contrasting concepts may mislead due to an over dramatization or simplification of two sides of an otherwise many sided argument. A sharply revealing means of distinguishing one quality or quantity from its opposites.

Octavio Paz interprets dialectical thought.

Dialectical approaches to thinking about the world and analyzing significant questions is basic to all real knowledge. In a fundamental sense, dialectic perspectives are necessary for effective decision making.

• These dialectical means of thinking and arguing about points come to us from both Chinese and Greek thought.

• An important religious ideal originating in Mesopotamia is the Manichean perspective dividing creation into the evil and the good; locked in combat for all eternity.

For an example see.

Words can be deceiving.

Antonyms

Dialect

A divergence from the original, ancestral or root, hence referring to colloquial expressions in any language distinct from the more widely spoken forms of language.

To contradict in order to determine the reason or rationale of something.

Pro	assert	plaintiff	prosecution	promote	ideal	propose	support
Con	refute	defendant	defense	demote	real	oppose	condemn

Pro	Con
prefix (before)	suffix (after)
add +	subtract -
multiply X	divide ÷
advocate	denigrate
synonym	antonym
one	many
day	night
positive	negative
plus	minus
predator	prey
adult	child

Opposites reveal hidden details about how matter is arranged:

Two similar architectural features joined by an archways.

Below is the exterior of a reconstruction of Constantine's Basilica at Trier, one of the capitals of the Roman Empire, The plan of the building was incorporated into the earliest Christian churches as the common basilica or town hall were the municipal meeting places or venues for law courts in ancient Roman society. Much of the buildings design and construction rested on a union of opposite features.

What in the chapel appears to be arranged in pairs or opposite sides?

An arch,

set perpendicular to another arch at its center point is a vault

phonic versus antiphonic

Narthex versus Altar

What is a vault and how is it constructed?

Dialectical refers to the capacity to see an inherent opposition between two things, literally. Figuratively it implies the capability to understand contradictory points of view. A dialectic embodies the ability to set arguments side by side in order to determine their relative structure, factual evidence, and believable qualities.

Thus when choosing to compare and contrast positions a dialectical emerges from the differences that are delineated by listing points and counter-points to every description and argument that is presented by a piece of writing, an exposition, or an essay. There is always an opposite perspective to the assertions of an argument.

see method

The exceptions that prove the rule: not all reality is dividable into opposites.


Proton		Neutron
Positive		No charge

But we construct the world out of opposites and by uniting these apparent polarities in a structure we make use of contrasts in order to see more accurately what it is we are perceiving. Genuine, authentic knowledge only emerges from a reconciliation of contrasting opposites into a unified whole.

An underlying problem is that an atom is actually composed of negatively charged electrons (blue ball) and positively charged (orange ball) protons and many other particles. But for the sake of understanding dialectical argument; one may resolve the problem of positive versus negative charges by conceptualizing atoms on one level as neutrally charged by opposite charges coming together and canceling each other.

See: the many meanings of nature.

Quantum leap.

The problem of understanding light.

Solutions in synthesis

An arch, any arch is a composition of opposing forces to raise a great structure. Just as an atom is composed of opposing forces of electrical charges that sustain the great structure of the material world.

Atoms bond into compounds and compounds into molecules that make up the different things we see, touch, sense and are made up of from the world around us.

Opposition then is an inherently necessary component of reality into which we must look deeply to see our own contradictions and solve conundrums with binary vision to avoid debilitating mistakes of myopic resolutions -- even to recognize the very limits of the dialectical approach.

The dialectical approach is:

Thesis - Antithesis = Synthesis

premise - contradiction = resolution

Metaphors

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Last Updated on December 2, 2008.

By Joseph Siry