How we change what others think, feel, believe and do

The Art of Being Right

Techniques > General persuasion > The Art of Being Right

Description | Example | Discussion | See also

Philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer wrote an essay called 'The Art of Controversy' that was published (in English, in 1896) after his death. It was later re-published with the more catchy title of 'The Art of Being Right'. Schopenhauer's stratagems are repeated and discussed here.

In each of the pages below, the 'Description' and 'Example' sections are Schopenhauer's. The 'Discussion' is mine.

• The Basis of All Dialectic

1. The Extension
2. The Homonymy
3. Generalize Specific Statements
4. Conceal Your Game
5. False Proposition
6. Postulate What Has To Be Proved
7. Yield Admissions Through Questions
8. Make Your Opponent Angry
9. Questions in Detouring Order
10. Take Advantage of The Nay-Sayer
11. Generalize Admissions of Specific Cases
12. Choose Metaphors That Support Your Proposition
13. Agree to Reject the Counter-Proposition
14. Claim Victory Despite Defeat
15. Use Seemingly Absurd Propositions
16. Arguments Ad Hominem
17. Defense Through Subtle Distinction
18. Interrupt, Break, Divert the Dispute
19. Generalize the Matter, Then Argue Against it
20. Draw Conclusions Yourself
21. Meet him With a Counter-Argument as Bad as His
22. Petitio Principii
23. Make Him Exaggerate his Statement
24. State a False Syllogism
25. Find One Instance to The Contrary
26. Turn The Tables
27. Anger Indicates a Weak Point
28. Persuade the Audience, Not The Opponent
29. Diversion
30. Appeal to Authority Rather Than Reason
31. This is Beyond Me
32. Put His Thesis Into Some Odious Category
33. It Applies in Theory, But Not in Practice
34. Don't Let Him Off The Hook
35. Will is More Effective Than Insight
36. Bewilder Your Opponent by Mere Bombast
37. A Faulty Proof Refutes His Whole Position
38. Become Personal, Insulting, Rude

It is notable that many of Schopenhauer's methods are deceptive and the goal is to gain agreement and acceptance, rather than to really convince. Such methods may win an argument but they may also lose you friends and create the effects of betrayal, so they should be treated with care.

If other people use these methods with you, the simplest approach is to sidestep -- just refuse to react, ignoring their devices. It can be a powerful method to 'name the game', describing what they are doing and saying you are not going to be taken in by this.

See also

Argument, Being Right, The Need to Be Right