dialética

Dialética refers to a method of philosophical reasoning that involves a discourse between two or more people holding different ideas to arrive at a common understanding or truth. This process often involves presenting a thesis, which is then challenged by an antithesis, leading to a synthesis that incorporates elements of both. The synthesis then becomes a new thesis, and the process continues. The term originates from ancient Greek philosophy, particularly associated with Socrates, who used questioning to expose contradictions in his interlocutors' beliefs and guide them towards clearer understanding.

Later, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel significantly expanded upon the dialectical method, viewing it as the fundamental engine of historical and intellectual development. For Hegel, the dialectic was not merely a method of argumentation but a description of how reality itself unfolds, with opposing forces constantly interacting and resolving into higher forms of consciousness and being. Karl Marx adapted Hegel's dialectical materialism, applying the concept to economic and social structures, arguing that history progresses through class struggle, a dialectical conflict between opposing economic interests.

While often associated with specific philosophers, the core idea of dialectic as a process of overcoming contradictions through reasoned discourse remains a significant concept in philosophy, logic, and critical thinking. It emphasizes the importance of opposing viewpoints in achieving a more complete and nuanced understanding of complex issues.