Stratagem 5
Original German
1 Man kann zum Beweis seines Satzes auch falsche Vordersätze gebrauchen, wenn nämlich der Gegner die wahren nicht zugeben würde, entweder weil er ihre Wahrheit nicht einsieht, oder weil er sieht daß die Thesis sogleich daraus folgen würde: dann nehme man Sätze die an sich falsch, aber ad hominem wahr sind, und argumentire aus der Denkungsart des Gegners ex concessis. Denn das Wahre kann auch aus falschen Prämissen folgen: wiewohl nie das falsche aus wahren. Eben so kann man falsche Sätze des Gegners durch andre falsche Sätze widerlegen, die er aber für wahr hält: denn man hat es mit ihm zu thun und muß seine Denkungsart gebrauchen. Z. B. ist er Anhänger irgend einer Sekte, der wir nicht beistimmen; so können wir gegen ihn die Aussprüche dieser Sekte, als principia, gebrauchen. Arist. Top. VIII, c. 9.
1 [Dazu der späte Zusatz:] Gehört zum vorhergehenden.
Musean translation
Machine-assisted, directly from Deussen’s German edition (1923).
1 To prove one's proposition, one may also use false premises when the opponent would not concede the true ones, either because he does not see their truth or because he sees that the thesis would follow immediately. Then take propositions false in themselves but true ad hominem, and argue from the opponent's way of thinking, from his concessions. For truth can follow from false premises, although falsehood can never follow from true ones. In the same way, one may refute an opponent's false propositions by other false propositions that he takes as true. We are dealing with him and must use his way of thinking. If, for example, he adheres to a sect with which we do not agree, we may use that sect's pronouncements against him as principles. Arist. Top. VIII, c. 9.
1 [The late addition here:] Belongs to the preceding passage.
Plain English translation
Machine-assisted, independently translated directly from Deussen’s German edition (1923).
1 You can use false premises to prove your claim when the opponent would refuse the true ones. They may fail to recognize that the true premises are true, or see that your claim would immediately follow from them. In that case, use statements that are false in themselves but true from the opponent's point of view. Argue from their way of thinking and from what they accept. Truth can follow from false premises, although falsehood never follows from true premises. In the same way, you can refute the opponent's false statements using other false statements they believe are true. You are dealing with that person and must use their way of thinking. For example, if they belong to a sect whose views we reject, we can use that sect's statements as principles against them. Arist. Top. VIII, c. 9.
1 [Later addition here:] This belongs to the previous passage.
About this section
Stratagem 5 is part of The Art of Being Right by Arthur Schopenhauer. This page sets the German original beside 2 direct-source translations, so any line can be checked against the source. It is section 10 of 43 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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