Opponent is a person who represents a contrary opinion in the scientific controversy. In ancient rhetoric, there is the concept of disputation (see Disput), which meant a dispute or discussion. In such a disputation Opponent and Proponent met. In doing so, the proponent opened up the dialogue and made a statement (thesis), which the opponent had to refute argumentatively. Now the proponent tried to defend his assertion. If he succeeded, he was the victor. Such disputes are still taking place at universities today.
The term goes back to the Latin opponent, which can be translated with opposite or even obverse. A similar concept appears in connection with politics. Here, the opposition (lat. Oppositio ~ the opposite) describes a group or party that opposes a ruling policy. As a result, the translation of the concept already points to what is at issue in principle: namely, something that is opposed to a thing or a conversation partner.
Aristotle, one of the most famous and influential philosophers of contemporary history, who influenced the theory of science, logic, biology, physics, ethics, theory of the state, but also theory of poetry, explained in Topik the fifth and penultimate book of the organon the tasks Opponent and Proponent , The Organon is a collection of writings on the art of logic.
He shows that opponent as well as proponent meet each other in one disposition. The proponent opens the dialogue with a claim that his opponent tries to refute argumentatively, whereupon the initiator gets the opportunity to invalidate these arguments. Afterwards, an arbitrator or the teacher seeks a compromise, thus the concession by concessions, dismisses the disputants, whereupon he finally answers the objections which the opponent has put forward.
Opponents at the university (doctorate)
Even today, this term is used and is used above all in an academic environment. If a student decides to become a doctor, he has to defend his work. Such defense takes place in the course of an oral examination (Rigorosum) or a scientific dispute (disputation).
The doctoral student must defend the thesis, which he formulated during his dissertation (PhD thesis). He thus certainly takes the role of the proponent. Against this thesis is now opposed. This means that students or university lecturers are attacking this thesis, thus testing it for soundness and forcing the doctoral students to defend themselves. The questions are referred to as opponents or opponents. Up until the 19th century, such a dispute was held in Latin.
In today’s world, the opposing role is usually taken over by the respective academic representatives of the university. As a rule, they prepare a written report on the dissertation, which is discussed with the doctoral student. According to this, it is no longer customary for students to attack the thesis, even if such a doctoral procedure is public at almost all universities.
Short overview: The most important part of the term at a glance
Opponent is a person who represents another view or the “opposing” interlocutor in a dispute. The term goes back to ancient rhetoric, where he formed the counterpart of the proponent.
At the same time, the disputants made a dispute on any subject. At first a statement was made, then the attempt dared to disprove it and then defend it. A teacher finally made a compromise.
This scientific exchange has been preserved to this day. There is also a similar procedure at the university: the defense of the doctoral thesis (dissertation). Academic experts examine the validity of the thesis of the doctoral student. These questions are also called opponents, also opponentes.