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Thesis and antithesis involve opposing ideas used in literature, philosophy, and other contexts. They can be embodied in characters and used to demonstrate contradictions or reach new conclusions through synthesis.
Thesis and antithesis can be distinguished because they tend to involve completely opposing or conflicting ideas. They are used in many different contexts, such as in literature and philosophical discourse. In some cases, they are used to make a point of an idea in a single comment or sentence, while in others, the two are sustained throughout the entire play, such as when two characters display completely opposite characteristics throughout a story. In philosophy, they are often combined into a synthesis that provides a new way of looking at the world.
Opposition is the defining feature that distinguishes thesis from antithesis in any given work. The two are commonly used in literature to demonstrate the opposition between two different ideas, actions or characters. When Neil Armstrong first set foot on the moon, for example, he described the action as “one small step for (a) man; a giant leap for mankind.” This usage demonstrates the inherent opposition that, while Armstrong’s physical action was only a single step by a single man, it represented a huge leap forward and an important occasion for celebration by mankind as a whole.
Writers can use thesis and antithesis in many different ways and for a variety of different reasons. In some cases, techniques are used to demonstrate that two seemingly unrelated ideas, actions, or objects are, in fact, inherently opposite to each other. In other cases, it can be used to point out contradictions in ideas that appear, upon casual scrutiny, to agree with each other. In literature, the two are often embodied in characters. Two characters, such as a main character and a main villain or a character and her foil, are shown to embody ideas and possess traits that oppose each other on a fundamental level.
Thesis and antithesis are also often used in philosophical discussions to reach new conclusions about accepted ways of thinking. First, the thesis or accepted way of thinking or acting is expressed. Next, an antithesis is proposed which demonstrates conflicts or problems with the original thesis. The third stage is called synthesis. The thesis, issues, and objections are combined to form a new worldview that most effectively or logically suggests a new way of thinking or acting.
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