Stratagem 11
Original German
Machen wir eine Induktion und er gesteht uns die einzelnen Fälle, durch die sie aufgestellt werden soll, zu; so müssen wir ihn nicht fragen ob er auch die aus diesen Fällen hervorgehende allgemeine Wahrheit zugebe; sondern sie nachher als ausgemacht und zugestanden einführen: denn bisweilen wird er dann selbst glauben sie zugegeben zu haben, und auch den Zuhörern wird es so vorkommen, weil sie sich der vielen Fragen nach den einzelnen Fällen erinnern, die denn doch zum Zweck geführt haben müssen.
Musean translation
Machine-assisted, directly from Deussen’s German edition (1923).
When we are making an induction and he concedes the particular cases by which it is to be established, we must not ask whether he also concedes the general truth arising from them. Instead, introduce it afterward as settled and conceded. He will sometimes then believe he conceded it himself; the listeners too will think so, remembering the many questions about the particular cases, which must surely have achieved their purpose.
Plain English translation
Machine-assisted, independently translated directly from Deussen’s German edition (1923).
If you are making an induction and the opponent accepts the individual cases you need for it, do not ask whether they also accept the general truth that follows. Bring it in later as already settled and accepted. Sometimes they will then believe they accepted it themselves. The listeners will think so too. They remember the many questions about individual cases and assume these must have achieved their purpose.
About this section
Stratagem 11 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 16 of 43 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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