Polemic

contentious argument that is intended to establish the truth of a specific belief and the falsity of the contrary belief

A polemic is a forceful argument or controversy made against one opinion, doctrine, or person.

It is one-sided and extreme, not a debate or discussion. It often occurs in disputes.

The word is derived from the Greek polemikos (πολεμικός), meaning "warlike, hostile".[1][2]

History change

Polemic journalism was common in continental Europe, when defamation laws were less strict as they are now.[3]

To support study of the polemics and controversies of the 17th-19th centuries, a British research project has placed thousands of pamphlets of that era online.[4]

Related pages change

Notes change

  1. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (Merriam-Webster, Springfield, MA, 2005), s.v. "polemic"
  2. American College Dictionary (Random House, New York)
  3. polemic, or polemical literature, or polemics (rhetoric). britannica.com. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
  4. "Pamphlet and polemic: Pamphlets as a guide to the controversies of the 17th-19th centuries". St Andrews University Library. Archived from the original on 2008-12-07. Retrieved 2008-02-21.

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