The Art of Being Right  

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Eristic Dialectics: The Art of Being Right (1831) (Eristische Dialektik: Die Kunst, Recht zu Behalten) is a short treatise of the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer. In it, Schopenhauer examines a total of thirty-eight methods of showing up one's opponent in a debate. He introduces his essay with the idea that philosophers have concentrated in ample measure on the rules of logic, but especially since the time of Immanuel Kant not engaged with the darker art of the dialectic, of controversy. Whereas the purpose of logic is classically said to be a method of arriving at the truth, dialectic, says Schopenhauer,

"on the other hand, would treat of the intercourse between two rational beings who, because they are rational, ought to think in common, but who, as soon as they cease to agree like two clocks keeping exactly the same time, create a disputation, or intellectual contest. Regarded as purely rational beings, the individuals would, I say, necessarily be in agreement, and their variation springs from the difference essential to individuality; in other words, it is drawn from experience."

Sections

1. The Extension
2. The Homonymy
3. Generalize Your Opponent's Specific Statements
4. Conceal Your Game
5. False Propositions
6. Postulate What Has to Be Proved
7. Yield Admissions Through Questions
8. Make Your Opponent Angry
9. Questions in Detouring Order
10. Take Advantage of the Nay-Sayer
11. Generalize Admissions of Specific Cases
12. Choose Metaphors Favourable to Your Proposition
13. Agree to Reject the Counter-Proposition
14. Claim Victory Despite Defeat
15. Use Seemingly Absurd Propositions
16. Arguments Ad Hominem
17. Defense Through Subtle Distinction
18. Interrupt, Break, Divert the Dispute
19. Generalize the Matter, Then Argue Against it
20. Draw Conclusions Yourself
21. Meet Him With a Counter-Argument as Bad as His
22. Petitio principii
23. Make Him Exaggerate His Statement
24. State a False Syllogism
25. Find One Instance to the Contrary
26. Turn the Tables
27. Anger Indicates a Weak Point
28. Persuade the Audience, Not the Opponent
29. Diversion
30. Appeal to Authority Rather Than Reason
31. This Is Beyond Me
32. Put His Thesis into Some Odious Category
33. It Applies in Theory, but Not in Practice
34. Don't Let Him Off the Hook
35. Will Is More Effective Than Insight
36. Bewilder Your opponent by Mere Bombast
37. A Faulty Proof Refutes His Whole Position
38. Become Personal, Insulting, Rude

See also

• Informal logic
• Logical fallacies
• Philosophical logic
• Reasoning