ad hominem - (of an argument or reaction) arising from or appealing to the emotions and not reason or logic. -- attacking an opponent's motives or character rather than the policy or position they maintain: vicious ad hominem attacks.
Apagoge, Apagoge |A'pagoge, AUCH …ˈɡoːɡe|, die Substantiv, feminin GRIECHISCHE PHILOSOPHIE die Apagoge; Genitiv: der Apagoge HERKUNFT griechisch; »das Wegführen« Schluss aus einem gültigen Obersatz und einem in seiner Gültigkeit nicht ganz sicheren, aber glaubwürdigen Untersatz
Aristotle |ˈarəˌstätl, ˌarəˈstätl| (384–322 bc ), Greek philosopher and scientist. A student of Plato and tutor to Alexander the Great, he founded a school (the Lyceum) outside Athens. He is one of the most influential thinkers in the history of Western thought. His surviving works cover a vast range of subjects, including logic, ethics, metaphysics, politics, natural science, and physics.
calculus |ˈkalkyələs| noun 1 (pl. calculuses) (also infinitesimal calculus)the branch of mathematics that deals with the finding and properties of derivatives and integrals of functions, by methods originally based on the summation of infinitesimal differences. The two main types are differential calculus and integral calculus. 2 (pl. calculuses) Mathematics & Logic a particular method or system of calculation or reasoning. • another term for tartar. ORIGIN mid 17th cent.: from Latin, literally 'small pebble (as used on an abacus).' 1 an oblong frame with rows of wires or grooves along which beads are slid, used for calculating. == ORIGIN late Middle English (denoting a board strewn with sand on which to draw figures): from Latin, from Greek abax, abak- 'slab, drawing board,' of Semitic origin; probably related to Hebrew ' āḇāq 'dust.'
Democritus |dəˈmäkritəs, dē-| ( c.460– c.370 bc ), Greek philosopher. He developed the atomic theory originated by his teacher Leucippus that explained natural phenomena in terms of the arrangement and rearrangement of atoms moving in a void.
Cartesian |kärˈtēZHən| of or relating to Descartes and his ideas. noun a follower of Descartes. DERIVATIVES Cartesianism |-ˌnizəm| noun ORIGIN mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin Cartesianus, from Cartesius, Latinized form of the name of Descartes.
Descartes, René (1596–1650) philosopher, mathematician, and man of science. Aiming to reach totally secure foundations for knowledge, Descartes concluded that everything was open to doubt except his own conscious experience, and his existence as a necessary condition of this: ' Cogito, ergo sum' (I think, therefore I am). From this certainty he developed a dualistic theory regarding mind and matter as separate though interacting. In mathematics Descartes developed the use of coordinates to locate a point in two or three dimensions.
dialectic |ˌdīəˈlektik| Philosophy noun(also dialectics) [ usu. treated as sing. ] 1 the art of investigating or discussing the truth of opinions. 2 inquiry into metaphysical contradictions and their solutions. • the existence or action of opposing social forces, concepts, etc. The ancient Greeks used the term dialectic to refer to various methods of reasoning and discussion in order to discover the truth. More recently, Kant applied the term to the criticism of the contradictions that arise from supposing knowledge of objects beyond the limits of experience, e.g., the soul. Hegel applied the term to the process of thought by which apparent contradictions (which he termed thesis and antithesis) are seen to be part of a higher truth (synthesis).
dispute noun 1 a subject of dispute: debate, discussion, disputation, argument, controversy, disagreement, quarreling, dissension, conflict, friction, strife, discord. ANTONYMS agreement. means, typically by the use of drugs. 3 Logic the inference of a general law from particular instances. Often contrasted with deduction. • (induction of) the production of (facts) to prove a general statement. • (also mathematical induction)Mathematics a means of proving a theorem by showing that if it is true of any particular case, it is true of the next case in a series, and then showing that it is indeed true in one particular case. 4 Physics the production of an electric or magnetic state by the proximity (without contact) of an electrified or magnetized body. See also magnetic induction. • the production of an electric current in a conductor by varying the magnetic field applied to the conductor. 5 the stage of the working cycle of an internal combustion engine in which the fuel mixture is drawn into the cylinders. ORIGIN late Middle English: from Latin inductio(n-), from the verb inducere 'lead into' (see induce) .
eristic |iˈristik| formal adjective of or characterized by debate or argument. • (of an argument or arguer) aiming at winning rather than at reaching the truth. noun a person given to debate or argument. • the art or practice or debate or argument. -- DERIVATIVES: eristically -- ORIGIN mid 17th cent.: from Greek eristikos, from erizein 'to wrangle,' from eris 'strife.'
Lamarck, Jean Baptiste de |laˈmɑːk, French lamaʀk| (1744–1829), French naturalist. He was an early proponent of organic evolution, although his theory is not widely accepted today. He suggested that species could have evolved from each other by small changes in their structure, and that the mechanism of such change (not now generally considered possible) was that characteristics acquired in order to survive could be passed on to offspring.
Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm (1646–1716), German rationalist philosopher, mathematician, and logician. He argued that the world is composed of single units (monads), each of which is self-contained but acts in harmony with every other, as ordained by God, and so this world is the best of all possible worlds. Leibniz also made the important distinction between necessary and contingent truths and devised a method of calculus independently of Newton.
Logic - reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles of validity: experience is a better guide to this than deductive logic | he explains his move with simple logic | the logic of the argument is faulty. • a particular system or codification of the principles of proof and inference: Aristotelian logic. • the systematic use of symbolic and mathematical techniques to determine the forms of valid deductive argument. -- ORIGIN late Middle English: via Old French logique and late Latin logica from Greek logikē (tekhnē)'(art) of reason,' from logos 'word, reason.'
non sequitur - a conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement. -- ORIGIN Latin, literally 'it does not follow.'
stratagem - a plan or scheme, especially one used to outwit an opponent or achieve an end: a series of devious stratagems.
syllogism |ˈsiləˌjizəm| noun an instance of a form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn (whether validly or not) from two given or assumed propositions (premises), each of which shares a term with the conclusion, and shares a common or middle term not present in the conclusion (e.g., all dogs are animals; all animals have four legs; therefore all dogs have four legs). • deductive reasoning as distinct from induction: logic is rules or syllogism. - ORIGIN late Middle English: via Old French or Latin from Greek sullogismos, from sullogizesthai, from sun- 'with' + logizesthai 'to reason' (from logos 'reasoning').
Themistocles |THəˈmistəˌklēz| ( c.528–462 bc ), Athenian statesman. He helped build up the Athenian fleet and defeated the Persian fleet at Salamis in 480.
Theophrastus |ˌTHēəˈfrastəs| ( c.370– c.287 bc ), Greek philosopher and scientist, the student and successor of Aristotle. The most influential of his works was Characters, a collection of sketches of psychological types.
