Controversy

A controversy (from Latin: contra opposed; versus directed) is a prolonged argument, dispute, or debate.

In a dispute, a controversial conversation may become an argument. The individuals acting or interacting in a dispute engage in a battle of words, attempting to present their own arguments on any given point of view and to convince their counterparts of their own position. Controversy can be described as a private debate between two individuals as well as powerful social unrest (e.g., dispute between two parties, debate).

The person who is engaged in a dispute is called a disputant. The disputation was originally an exercise of rhetoric and since the Middle Ages an integral part of academic education. In such a disputation, a "proponent" and an "opponent" met. The proponent was the one who opened the controversy in a dialogue by making an assertion (thesis). The action of the "opponent" was to refute or invalidate this assertion with arguments.

Numerous early Christian writers such as Irenaeus of Lyons or Jerome were famous as "controversial theologians" and wrote works against heretical doctrines or heretics, hence their works were titled "Adversus..." e.g. Irenaeus: Adversus haereses. Christian writers adopted from the classical rhetoricians the traditional view that controversial arguments, even about trivial matters, were a demonstration of intellectual superiority. See the Orations of Demosthenes or Cicero in Catilinam ("Against Catilina").

It is in the nature of controversy that it cannot be conducted with the intention of a conclusive "either-or"; it is therefore often accompanied by polemic and dispute. Constantine I convened the Council of Nicaea in 325 in the hope of settling the Arian controversy. As soon as the council had given its decision, any further discussion lapsed into anathema.

Three great controversies in church history were the Arian controversy, the Investiture controversy, and the Filioque controversy.

A reader may be provoked to read a work when it is labelled as a controversial book, as they will want to judge whether such a classification is justified or not. The same applies to controversial films, music, plays and also video and computer games.

See also

• Constructive controversy (form of group work)
• Controversies
• Controversy
• Controversy