Look up polemic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

A polemic ( /pəˈlɛmɪk/) is a contentious argument that is intended to establish the truth of a specific belief and the falsity of the contrary belief. Polemics are mostly seen in arguments about very controversial topics.

The art or practice of such argmentation is called polemics.

A person who often writes polemics, or who speaks polemically, is a polemicist or a polemic.^[1] The word is derived from the Greek πολεμικός (polemikos), meaning "warlike, hostile",^[2][3] which comes from πόλεμος (polemos), "war".^[4]

Overview[link]

Along with debate, polemics are one of the most common forms of arguing. Similar to debate, a polemic is confined to a definite controversial thesis. But unlike debate, which may seek a common ground between the two disputants, a polemic is intended only to establish the truth of a point of view while refuting the opposing point of view.

Polemics are usually addressed to important issues in religion, philosophy, politics, or science. Polemic journalism was common in continental Europe at a time when libel laws were not so stringent as they are now.^[5]

To support the study of the controversies of the 17th–19th centuries, a British research project has placed online thousands of polemical pamphlets from that era.^[6]

Polemic theology[link]

Polemic theology is the branch of theological argumentation devoted to the history or conduct of controversy over religious matters.^[7] It is distinguished from apologetics, the intellectual defense of faith.

Martin Luther's On the Bondage of the Will is an example of polemic theology. It was written in answer to a polemic entitled The Freedom of the Will by Desiderius Erasmus.

Noted polemicists[link]

A list of people who are associated with polemics:^[8]

• Alain Chartier (French author)
• Angelus Silesius (Polish poet)
• Ann Coulter (American author and pundit)
• Antero Tarquínio de Quental (Portuguese poet)
• Antoine Arnauld (French theologian)
• António Feliciano de Castilho (Portuguese poet and translator)
• Antony Khrapovitsky (Russian archbishop)
• Ayn Rand (Russian-American philosopher)
• Christopher Hitchens (Anglo-American journalist and literary critic)
• Daniel Defoe (English author)
• David al-Mukammas (Jewish philosopher)
• David Icke (English writer)
• Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin (American missionary)
• Desiderius Erasmus (Dutch Christian humanist)
• Edward Abbey (American author)
• Ellen Willis (American feminist author)
• Filippo Tommaso Marinetti (Italian author and artist)
• François Mauriac (French author)
• Friedrich Nietzsche (German philosopher)
• Gennadios II Scholarios (patriarch of Constantinople)
• George Gillespie (Scottish minister and writer)
• George Orwell (English author)
• Georges Bernanos (French author)
• Gian Francesco Poggio Bracciolini (Italian scholar)
• Gore Vidal (American author)
• Jacob Israel Emden (Danish rabbi)
• Jean-Paul Marat (French journalist and revolutionary)
• Jean-Paul Sartre (French philosopher)
• Johann Eck (German theologian)
• Johann Fischart (German satirist)
• Johannes Pfefferkorn (German controversialist)
• John Jewel (English bishop)
• John Milton (English poet)
• John Steinbeck (American writer)
• Jonathan Swift (Irish author and clergyman)
• Joseph de Maistre (French moralist)
• Juan Pablo Forner (Spanish writer)
• Junius (English author)
• Kaj Skagen (Norwegian author and essayist)
• Karl Marx (German philosopher)
• Laura Kipnis (American author and painter)
• Leo Pinsker (Russian-Polish physician)
• Léon Bloy (French author)
• Léon Daudet (French journalist and author)
• Leon of Modena (Italian rabbi and writer)
• Lorenzo Valla (Italian humanist)
• Louis Maimbourg (French historian)
• Martin Luther (German theologian)
• Maximus Planudes (Turkish scholar and theologian)
• Michael Moore (American filmmaker)
• Murray Bookchin (American social philosopher)
• Noam Chomsky (American linguist and author)
• Patrick Buchanan (American politician, political commentator, and author)
• Pierre Nicole (French theologian)
• Randolph Silliman Bourne (American writer and critic)
• Richard Dawkins (English scientist and author)
• Richard Montagu (English clergyman)
• Robespierre (leader of the French Revolution)
• Rush Limbaugh (American radio talk-show host)
• Saadia Gaon (Jewish exegete and philosopher)
• Saint Anastasius Sinaita (theologian)
• Saint Ephraem Syrus (Christian theologian)
• Saint Fulgentius of Ruspe (African bishop)
• Saint Lawrence of Brindisi (Christian saint)
• Saint Prosper of Aquitaine (Christian polemicist)
• Sam Harris (American atheist]]
• Samuel Butler (English author)
• Simon-Nicolas-Henri Linguet (French journalist and lawyer)
• Søren Kierkegaard (Danish philosopher, theologian, and social critic)
• Sydney Smith (English preacher)
• Tertullian (Christian theologian)
• Ulrich von Hutten (German knight)
• Victor Henri Rochefort, Marquis de Rochefort-Luçay (French politician and writer)
• Vladimir Lenin (Russian Marxist and leader of the Russian revolution)

See also[link]

• Apologia
• Critic
• Devil's advocate
• Dialectic
• Disputation
• Philippic
• Rhetoric
• Social gadfly

References[link]

Bibliography[link]

• Gallop, Jane (2004). Polemic: Critical or Uncritical (1 ed.). New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-97228-0. 
• Hawthorn, Jeremy (1987). Propaganda, Persuasion and Polemic. Hodder Arnold. ISBN 0-7131-6497-2. 
• Lander, Jesse M. (2006). Inventing Polemic: Religion, Print, and Literary Culture in Early Modern England. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-83854-1. 

External links[link]

• Quotations related to Polemic at Wikiquote

Zuzana Smatanová

Zuzana Smatanová (born June 14, 1984 Súľov-Hradná, Slovakia) is a Slovak pop-rock singer. She sings in Slovak and in English, writing her own lyrics and music. She plays the piano, the flute and the guitar.

In 1998 she was accepted to Pedagogical and Social Academy in Turčianske Teplice, but was more attracted to writing music than to being a teacher.

Awards in slovak competitions[link]

She won the Slovak Coca-Cola Popstar (2003) competition, the "Discovery of the Year" category at Aurel Awards 2003, Female singer of the year on "OTO" in 2004 and 2005 and Best female singer on "Slavik" in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Discography[link]

• Entirely good (September 8, 2003)
• Svet mi stúpil na nohu (October 10, 2005)
• Tabletky odvahy (September 24, 2007)
• Live! (CD and DVD, 2008)
• Gemini (2CD, 2009)
• Dvere (2011)

She also collaborated with Desmod (song "Pár dní" from Skupinová terapia album, and song "Čiernobiela" from Kyvadlo album) and IMT Smile (songs "Suzanna" and "Úsmev a čaj (I Am Tea-Smile)" from Exotica album).

See also[link]

• The 100 Greatest Slovak Albums of All Time

External links[link]

• Official homepage (SK)
• Official Fanclub homepage (SK)

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This Slovak biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e