Stratagem 32
Original German
Eine uns entgegenstehende Behauptung des Gegners können wir auf eine kurze Weise dadurch beseitigen oder wenigstens verdächtig machen daß wir sie unter eine verhaßte Kategorie bringen, wenn sie auch nur durch eine Aehnlichkeit oder sonst lose mit ihr zusammenhängt: z. B. „das ist Manichäismus, das ist A[r]ianismus; das ist Pelagianismus; das ist Idealismus; das ist Spinozismus; das ist Pantheismus; das ist Brownianismus; das ist Naturalismus; das ist Atheismus; das ist Rationalismus; das ist Spiritualismus; das ist Mysticismus; u. s. w.“ — Wir nehmen dabei zweierlei an: 1) daß jene Behauptung wirklich identisch oder wenigstens enthalten sei in jener Kategorie, rufen also aus: oh, das kennen wir schon! — und 2) daß diese Kategorie schon ganz widerlegt sei und kein wahres Wort enthalten könne. —
Musean translation
Machine-assisted, directly from Deussen’s German edition (1923).
An assertion of the opponent that stands against us may be quickly disposed of, or at least made suspect, by placing it under a hated category, even if it is connected with that category only by a resemblance or in some loose way. For example: “That is Manichaeism; that is Arianism; that is Pelagianism; that is idealism; that is Spinozism; that is pantheism; that is Brownianism; that is naturalism; that is atheism; that is rationalism; that is spiritualism; that is mysticism,” and so forth. We assume two things: 1) that the assertion is actually identical with, or at least contained in, that category, and thus exclaim, “Oh, we know all about that already!” 2) That the category has already been entirely refuted and cannot contain a true word.
Plain English translation
Machine-assisted, independently translated directly from Deussen’s German edition (1923).
Quickly dismiss the opponent's claim, or at least make it suspicious, by putting it in a disliked category. A resemblance or loose connection will do. Say, for example, “That is Manichaeism; that is Arianism; that is Pelagianism; that is idealism; that is Spinozism; that is pantheism; that is Brownianism; that is naturalism; that is atheism; that is rationalism; that is spiritualism; that is mysticism,” and so on. We assume two things: 1) the claim is identical to that category, or at least included in it. So we say, “Oh, we already know about that!” 2) The whole category has been refuted already and cannot contain a word of truth.
About this section
Stratagem 32 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 37 of 43 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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