elenctic
1
9.9
- adjective
- /ɪˈlɛnktɪk/
- Jargon
- Socrates himself notoriously claims to know nothing, and he suggests that his method is purely elenctic, drawing out the confusions and contradictions in the interlocutor's thinking.
Examples
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The professor used an elenctic approach to expose the flaws in the student's argument about ethical behavior.
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His elenctic style of discussion often left his peers reconsidering their previously held beliefs.
-
Apparently, he also believes that the truth is in there in such a way that when all the jumbled and mutually contradictory beliefs are elicited by the process of elenctic argument, the right ones will be kept and the erroneous ones thrown away.
Academic text (2000) -
During the debate, her elenctic questions effectively challenged the assumptions of her opponent's position.
Synonyms
1
9.8
Often likes to argue with other people
1
8.6
Often ready to argue with people
Antonyms
How Challenging
29
7.7
11
4.6
- Jargon
1
9.9
11
6.5
234
3.8
8
3.9
Surface Forms
Etymology
Elenctic comes from the Greek word elenchus, which means 'to expose error' or 'to test'. It describes Socratic-style questioning that challenges ideas to find mistakes, so an elenctic argument intends to show when a belief is wrong.