1. If you ask me, why I would latch on to Schopenhauer, I must confess that I have no idea. I simply cannot retrace the nexus-like, associative train of thought that led me to the chance encounter with his "Eristische Dialektik/Eristic Dialectics" (ca. 1830). What I do know, however, is that I had downloaded the text both in the Project Gutenberg/Spiegel and the bilingual CoolHaus version when we went up to the Lake in mid-September.
2. There, being entirely deprived of internet connections, I consumed it with great & growing delight. We had left shortly after the first Presidential Debate. With various TRUMP* tactics - his trumped up arguments, trumpeting loud victory claims, & brandishing alleged trump cards, etc. - fresh in mind, it was striking to find so many of Schopenhauer's "38 Artful [Debate-} Tricks" in action.
This particular debater is a natural in the art of diversion, non sequiturs, [2] & vivious attacks ad hominem.[3] Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, is obviously far better trained in more refined rhetorical traditions: she resorts skillfully to "strategems", [4] like no. 8 (Den Gegner zum Zorn reizen/Provoke Anger in Your Opponent), or the related no. 27 (Zorn bedeutet Schwäche/Anger Means Weakness).
Of course, since September, matters have turned from bad to worse, so that by now (16oct16) Trump constantly employs Kunstgriff/Trick no. 38 - "Sei persönlich, beleidigend, grob/Be Personal, Insulting, Rude" - which is in full evidence every day, all day long. -- And now (28oct16), one can add the suspicion that he is not uninvolved in the latest trumpery allegations against his opponent.
3. CoolHaus.de uses an 1896 translation [5] in conjunction with the Spiegel text. I found the English renderings lacking the eloquent luster of Schopenhauer's original, but any readers who might stray into my realm may judge for themselves.
Finally, just as "all roads lead to Rome", so here is a - perhaps, tenuous - connection to the UMA's FPG-Grove Collections: "In 1976, UM Professor Margaret Stobie, donated research documents related to her 1973 book about Grove in the Twayne World Authors series. Her papers contain detailed records of Grove's early Canadian years as a teacher in Manitoba, and his very first Canadian publication,"Rousseau als Erzieher" in Der Nordwesten, Nov.-Dec., 1914. This significant text transparently imitates more than the mere title of Nietzsche's essay "Schopenhauer as Educator" (1873). Note that Greve had reviewed two volumes of Nietzsche's posthumous works in 1901." -- [From: The FPG (Greve/Grove) Collections in the Umiversity of Manitoba Archives: History & Description, III.]
1. Eristic - "of an argument or arguer: aiming at winning rather than at reaching the truth." Dialectics: "the art of investigating or discussing the truth of opinions." -- It is likeley that Schopenhauer used the Bekker's monumental Aristotle edition (1831-1836). The eminent philologist (1785-1871) seems to have been a kindred spirited misanthrope: "Bekker galt als sprachkundig, aber wortkarg (Friedrich Schleiermacher: "Bekker schweigt in sieben Sprachen")." - deWikipedia (gd: almost untranslatable: "B. B. is mute in 7 languges")
2. non sequitur: "a conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement."
3. Ad Hominem: "attacking an opponent's motives or character rather than the policy or position they maintain: vicious ad hominem attacks."
4. Strategem: "a plan or scheme, especially one used to outwit an opponent or achieve an end: a series of devious stratagems."
5. The Art Of Controversy / tr., T. Bailey Saunders. London: Swan, Sonnenschein ; New York: Macmillan, 1896.
-- e-Ed., Project Gutenberg. 17jan2004.
Pref.: "A small part of the essay on The Art of Controversy was published in Schopenhauer's lifetime, in the chapter of the Parerga* headed "Zur Logik und Dialektik." The intelligent reader will discover that a good deal of its contents is of an ironical character." -- *Parerga und Paralipomena, 1851.
* What a name for what a candidate who definitely is no Trump (in the "card" sense). Only the derived phrase "trumping something up" may aptly apply: "invent a false accusation or excuse: they've trumped up charges against her." -Apple Dictionary
He can be more closely linked to the following meanings:
Trumpet:
1. Brass instrument ... ; 2. "a sound resembling that of a trumpet, especially the loud cry of an elephant."
Trumpery, -ies:
"attractive articles of little value or use; practices or beliefs that are superficially or visually appealing but have little real value or worth.
adj. "showy but worthless: trumpery jewelry; delusive or shallow: that trumpery hope which lets us dupe ourselves. _____________
gd - 30oct2016 |
