Stratagem 16
Original German
Argumenta ad hominem oder ex concessis. [1] Bei einer Behauptung des Gegners müssen wir suchen ob sie nicht etwa irgendwie, nöthigenfalls auch nur scheinbar, im Widerspruch steht mit irgend etwas das er früher gesagt oder zugegeben hat, oder mit den Satzungen einer Schule oder Sekte die er gelobt und gebilligt hat, oder mit dem Thun der Anhänger dieser Sekte, oder auch nur der unächten und scheinbaren Anhänger, oder mit seinem eignen Thun und lassen. Vertheidigt er z. B. den Selbstmord, so schreit man gleich „warum hängst du dich nicht auf?“ Oder er behauptet z. B., Berlin sei ein unangenehmer Aufenthalt: gleich schreit man: warum fährst du nicht gleich mit der ersten Schnellpost ab?
Es wird sich doch irgendwie eine Schikane herausklauben lassen.
1 Siehe Hefte Appendix B zu B. 122 [der „Vorlesungen“; in unsr. Ausg. Bd. IX, S. 511,1—33].
Musean translation
Machine-assisted, directly from Deussen’s German edition (1923).
Arguments ad hominem or ex concessis.1 When the opponent makes an assertion, look for some way in which it contradicts—if necessary, only apparently—something he has said or conceded before, the tenets of a school or sect he has praised and approved, the conduct of that sect's adherents, even merely its spurious and apparent adherents, or his own conduct and omissions. If, for example, he defends suicide, cry out at once: “Why don't you hang yourself?” Or he maintains that Berlin is an unpleasant place to live: immediately cry out, “Why don't you leave on the first express coach?”
Some quibble can surely be dug up somewhere.
1 See Hefte Appendix B zu B. 122 [of the “Lectures”; in our edition, volume IX, S. 511,1—33].
Plain English translation
Machine-assisted, independently translated directly from Deussen’s German edition (1923).
Arguments based on the opponent's own position or concessions.1 Look for something in their claim that conflicts with what they have said or accepted before. If necessary, an apparent conflict will do. It might conflict with the rules of a school or sect they praised and approved, with the behavior of that sect's followers, even its false or supposed followers, or with what the opponent does or fails to do. For example, if they defend suicide, immediately shout, “Why don't you hang yourself?” If they claim Berlin is an unpleasant place to live, shout, “Why don't you leave on the next express mail coach?”
You can surely find some objection to make trouble for them.
1 See Hefte Appendix B zu B. 122 [of the “Lectures”; in our edition, Bd. IX, S. 511,1—33].
About this section
Stratagem 16 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 21 of 43 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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