ATLAS OF LANGUAGE

AT-CORE-244-008 · ATLAS 251

Retorsion

A counter-move that turns a claim, rule, or justification back upon its author and tests it by its own standard.

Explanation

A counter-move that turns a claim, rule, or justification back upon its author and tests it by its own standard. It does not merely accept an opponent's premise but shows that applying it may support the attacked position or strike the attack itself.

Example

Someone who forbids every appeal to authority invokes the authority of that very rule to justify the prohibition.

Counterexample

Merely mentioning “Retorsion” without the described function is not a sufficient example.

Distinction

Antistrephon primarily turns an argument against an opponent; retorsion emphasises testing it against its own claim to validity.

Effect on thought and perception

It does not merely accept an opponent's premise but shows that applying it may support the attacked position or strike the attack itself.

Resonance

In the atlas, Retorsion closes 1 previously unresolved reference line(s) and opens controlled paths of thought.

Etymology

Technical core term; individual etymological review pending

Provenance

ATLAS 241 residual-case triage → profile candidate 241-C → source and neighbourhood cross-check → ATLAS 244

Cite this entry

Reich, Michael (Hrsg./ed.): „Retorsion“. Atlas der Sprache, AT-CORE-244-008. ATLAS 251, data model 1.6.0. https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-CORE-244-008

https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-CORE-244-008

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