eristumise

Eristumise is a term used in discourse analysis to describe the practice of employing eristic argument techniques with the aim of winning a dispute rather than arriving at truth. It is commonly discussed in analyses of public debate and online conversation, where speed of response can trump careful reasoning.

The word appears to be a neologism built from the Greek root eristik- meaning disputatious. It echoes "eristic" rhetoric and the suffix -mise, suggesting an active process. It is used as both a noun and a verb in contemporary writing.

Typical features include reliance on rhetorical devices rather than substantive evidence, use of straw man arguments, ad hominem or tu quoque moves, false dichotomies, and strategic disengagement from clarifying questions. Eristumise often occurs in fast-moving threads where participants aim to signal competence rather than achieve mutual understanding.

Contexts include political discourse, media commentary, and online platforms with heavy emphasis on engagement metrics. Proponents sometimes view eristumise as a practical response to adversarial environments, while critics see it as a barrier to productive dialogue.

Scholars discuss eristumise as a factor in misinformation, polarization, and erosion of trust in institutions. Debates about how to counter it focus on encouraging evidence-based discussion, promoting media literacy, and fostering norms that privilege clarity over victory.

See also eristic, rhetoric, and argumentation theory.