Truth is born in disputes: the author. Is truth born in a dispute?

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:41

It is not known why, but people tend not only to make mistakes, but also to argue. The regulars of numerous forums and social networks are by and large occupied mainly with verbal battles: everyone defends his opinion, sometimes foaming at the mouth. In battles, precious time and no less precious nerves are wasted, but the participants do not lose heart: after all, everyone knows that truth is born in a dispute, for which it is not shameful to suffer. Nevertheless, there are certain subtleties that turn frank abuse into controversy. Let's talk about the positive and negative aspects of such a thing as a dispute, and determine its role in the life of society.

Fairy tale is a lie

This phrase is very common - every person, probably, at least once in his life repeated it, putting a direct, ironic or even sarcastic meaning, because not every discussion can boast of such a wonderful result. Most often, neither its subject nor the composition of the participants imply such success: truth is born in disputes only when the conversation is substantive, and the interlocutors are not only “in the subject”, but also well-educated enough to listen to each other's opinions.

Perhaps the most impressive number of truths borndisputes in the field of science. Each proposed theory or study is a kind of argument, during the exchange of which new knowledge appears. Most likely, this is what the ancients had in mind when they said that truth is born in a dispute.

Socrates, to whom the aphorism is attributed, hardly thought so in reality. The famous philosopher rightly believed that the dispute, in fact, is nothing more than an attempt to impose one's opinion on the opponent, to force him to admit his own rightness. But human knowledge is far from perfect. What truth can be born in a dispute between two representatives of the ancient world, one of whom believes that the earth rests on three whales, and the other that on four turtles?

It is known that Socrates contrasted the dispute with dialogue, and pinned corresponding hopes on it, recommending talking to a person and not messing with the crowd.

Debatable

If you think about it, the subject of discussion is of great importance. The more complex and specific it is, the more truth there is in the statement that truth is born in a dispute: it would not occur to the uninitiated to discuss nuclear physics or molecular biology. To conduct conversations on such topics, you need to have the appropriate knowledge. And in order to master them, you need a considerable mind, which, in fact, plays a decisive role in the process of creating something worthwhile.

Unfortunately, most of the disputes you get involved in or watch from the sidelines are unlikely to be particularly meaningful.

And what betterkeep silent

Albert Einstein believed that politics is a much more complex subject than the theory of relativity. In this light, it is completely incomprehensible why there are so few people who want to discuss a light theory, and 99% of the adult population of the country are major experts in international relations.

This is where the phrase "truth is born in disputes" sounds like a real mockery. It is impossible to imagine a more fruitless and meaningless pastime. Is there anything stranger in the world than the fact that thousands of adults spend their lives trying to convince thousands of others that they are right, knowing in advance that this is completely impossible?

Except mutual insults and insults, nothing is born in such disputes, and cannot be born: after all, people involved are not only incompetent, but also have absolutely no influence on the situation.

To positively answer the question of whether truth is born in a dispute, three things are important:

• subject of dispute;
• roster of participants;
• their competence.

Born in Strife

However, a civilized dispute can have one more result, which is sometimes even better than the truth, and its name is compromise. There are such areas of life in which the notorious truth does not exist at all, and if it exists, then "no one knows it." Everything about love, marriage, raising children periodically makes people cross invisible blades - and completely in vain.

There are things in whichindividual characteristics and preferences are a decisive factor. Here it is not necessary to look for the truth, but the opportunity to agree - this ability distinguishes thinking beings from stubborn sheep. The only pity is that not everyone understands this.

Olympic principle

It is hardly always fair to say that truth is born in disputes, but at the same time, sometimes participating in such an event is “not only harmful, but also beneficial,” as the satirists say.

Even if the exchange of arguments itself does not lead to a positive result, the need to argue your opinion will help put your thoughts in order, detect flaws in your own logical constructions. In the end, even the conclusion about the senselessness of the dispute on this topic may also be useful in the process of gaining valuable life experience. As they say, you can learn from everything - the main thing is not to get hung up on the material already covered.

Thus, saying: "Truth is born in a dispute," the author got excited. Such an outcome cannot be ruled out either, but with a fair amount of reservations.

Ethics above all else

As in any other reasoning about the depths of human communication, we again have to state common truths about the importance of mutual respect, the unacceptability of the transition to insults, the need to find the strength to appreciate and accept the opinion of another person, even if you do not share it yourself.

Rules of conduct mankind has come up with not in vain. There are areas in which the rule "truth is born in disputes" does notworks and never will. Therefore, in a decent society, it is not customary to discuss politics, religion and football.

If you follow the elementary rules, any conversation, even the most heated, will not make you bitterly regret it after, when passions subside and opponents begin to count losses. No wonder they say that at the very moment when the interlocutors feel anger towards each other, the argument should end, and not vice versa.