Plekhanov on dialectics
The term "dialectic", as a description of a mode of reasoning, dates back to ancient Greek philosophy, and in general signifies a method of argument that involves some sort of contradictory process between opposing sides, usually as a path to successive approximations to truth. Thus Plato presented his philosophical argument as a back-and-forth dialogue or debate, generally between Socrates and some other person. In what is now called "classic German philosophy", the pioneer, Immanuel Kant (fl.1781-1792) built some of his key philosophical ideas around a discussion of "antinomies"...