Discourses, Of Disputation or Discussion

Epictetus — The Slave

Stoic philosophers have clearly shown us what we need to learn about logical argument. But when it comes to actually using these skills properly, we have no practice. Give any of us an uneducated person to debate with, and we can't figure out how to handle them. When we provoke the person a little and they respond off-topic, we don't know what to do. So we insult them or mock them and say, "They're ignorant — there's no point trying with them." But when a guide finds someone who's lost, he leads them back to the right path. He doesn't mock or insult them and walk away. You should show the uneducated person the truth, and you'll see they will follow it. But as long as you don't show them the truth, don't ridicule them. Instead, recognize your own inability to teach.

Epictetus — The Slave Original

What things a man must learn in order to be able to apply the art of disputation, has been accurately shown by our philosophers (the Stoics); but with respect to the proper use of the things, we are entirely without practice. Only give to any of us, whom you please, an illiterate man to discuss with, and he cannot discover how to deal with the man. But when he has moved the man a little, if he answers beside the purpose, he does not know how to treat him, but he then either abuses or ridicules him, and says, He is an illiterate man; it is not possible to do anything with him. Now a guide, when he has found a man out of the road, leads him into the right way; he does not ridicule or abuse him and then leave him. Do you also show the illiterate man the truth, and you will see that he follows. But so long as you do not show him the truth, do not ridicule him, but rather feel your own incapacity.