How to Distinguish Dialectics from Sophistry?

Abstract

Rongqing Dai

Along with the history of western civilization, dialectics has been presented to the public by philosophers of big names such as Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Hegel, and many others, in very different tones. Consequently, after millenniums long practical applications, misuses, criticisms, as well as eulogies, dialectics is still like an elusive ghost among the philosophical professionals without being clearly comprehended. The most confusing part of dialectics and thus the biggest obstacle to learning dialectics is its apparent similarity with sophistry. In this article, we will first review the attitudes of Aristotle and Kant towards dialectics, and then discuss how to distinguish dialectics from sophistry through their subtle difference, and finally we will take a look at the relationship between the Hegelian dialectics and sophistry.

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