self refutation, n.Definitions

Self-refutation (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the Euripidean sting of dialectic: 'you heard it from yourself, not from me.'

Self-refutation (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠relativism's most exquisite feature: granting that those who call him wrong judge truly, Protagoras must concede his own doctrine is false.

Self-refutation (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the fate of the claim that nothing false can be said: it upsets other arguments and, in the same stroke, itself.

Self-refutation (n.) catches ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the man who says "believe me when I say no man should believe anybody"; the denier of evident truths must use them to deny them.