How to Use Double Negation in Philosophy

Double negation is a philosophical concept that originated with German idealist Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. The technique of dialectical negation is best known as used by philosophers Karl Marx, Frederick Engels and Friedrich Nietzsche, as well as contemporary, continental philosophers including Jean-Luc Nancy. The double negation consists of: presenting an argument, arguing against the argument (called the first negation); building a new argument based on the first negation, and finally arguing against the new argument (called the second negation).

Things You'll Need

  • Thesis
  • Antithesis (first negation)
  • Synthesis
  • Second negation
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Instructions

  1. Doing Negative Dialectics

    • 1

      State your argument and present evidence for your position. Be sure to provide convincing and well-documented references for your proposition. This is called the thesis.

    • 2

      Argue against the stated thesis. Be sure to provide an equally convincing proposition with evidence. This is called the antithesis.

    • 3

      Now that you have provided a thesis and its antithesis, develop a synthesis of the two positions. This new proposition is called the first negation.

    • 4

      Next develop an argument against the synthesis. This is known as the second negation. This technique of double negation results in the synthesizing of disparate positions resulting in a thorough development of ideas.

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