Modern thought is based mostly upon logic. There is one singular man civilization as a whole has to thank for this and he is Socrates. If not for Socrates modern argument might still be based around the idea truth is based upon the specific scenario. Using Socrates’ dialectical method illogical statements that seem logical are broken down and revealed. Before Socrates one could argue effectively that there is no baseline for virtue, and no one would be able to prove you wrong. Modern Ideas are for the most part extensions of Socrates’ ideas.
The dialectical process is the way to break down an idea by having two people debate over an idea and break it down to the core of it and see if it is a valid theory or not. Television shows today have debate shows based purely around this idea. These shows take two people of opposing viewpoints and have them argue a point out for an hour. While many times this does not convince the two people debating it very often does show the person watching the program which of the points is the more valid and which is fabricated. Not only television shows use the Socratic method for determining what is right or not. The scientific process is based upon that idea. In the scientific process with an experiment you take a control group and an experimental group(s). This is very much like the dialectical process because the control group is one way for things to happen or viewpoint and the experimental group(s) are testing the variables or ideas behind that viewpoint. While mildly metaphorical the connection is there when one looks deep enough. The dialectical method set for western culture the ideas behind setting up philosophy. Plut ...