Dialectic
WordNet
adjective
(1) Of or relating to or employing dialectic
"The dialectical method"
noun
(2) Any formal system of reasoning that arrives at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments
(3) A contradiction of ideas that serves as the determining factor in their interaction
"This situation created the inner dialectic of American history"
WiktionaryText
Etymology
From ancient Greek διαλεκτική (dialektike) "the art of argument through interactive questioning and answering", from διαλεκτικός (dialektikos) "competent debater", from διαλέγομαι (dialegomai) "to participate in a dialogue", from διά (dia) "through, across" + λέγειν (legein) "to speak".
Noun
- Any formal system of reasoning that arrives at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments.
- A contradiction of ideas that serves as the determining factor in their interaction.
- This situation created the inner dialectic of American history.