meta-argument
[/ˈmɛtə ˈɑːrɡjumənt/]
nounmasculinepl: meta-arguments
meta-argumento
1. An argument about an argument; a discussion or reasoning that addresses the nature, validity, or structure of another argument rather than its content
Instead of debating the policy itself, they engaged in a meta-argument about whether the original proposal was even worth discussing.
Em vez de debater a política em si, eles se envolveram em um meta-argumento sobre se a proposta original valia a pena ser discutida.
2. In logic and philosophy, a higher-order argument that examines the premises, logic, or reasoning processes of a primary argument
The philosopher's meta-argument questioned whether the foundational axioms of the original theory were valid.
O meta-argumento do filósofo questionava se os axiomas fundamentais da teoria original eram válidos.
3. In debate and rhetoric, a strategic move where one argues about the debate process itself rather than the substantive issues
His meta-argument about the unfairness of the debate format deflected from the actual merits of his position.
Seu meta-argumento sobre a injustiça do formato do debate desviou dos méritos reais de sua posição.
The term 'meta-argument' is primarily used in academic, philosophical, and formal debate contexts in both English-speaking and Portuguese-speaking countries. In Brazil, it appears frequently in university discourse on logic, philosophy, and rhetoric. The concept became more widespread in internet culture and informal debates, where it describes situations where people argue about the nature of the argument itself rather than its content—a phenomenon increasingly recognized in digital communication studies.
Related Idioms & Phrases
to get into a meta-argument
to resort to meta-arguments
avoid meta-arguments and focus on the substance
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