Mesquita, António Pedro2018-07-122018-07-1220171984-8234http://hdl.handle.net/10451/34149Over time, several authors have argued that, for Aristotle, dialectic is a method of discovery or establishment of the principles of science in general. In this article, I will present four arguments against this view and propose a deflationary view of the role of dialectic in this regard. According to this view, such a role consists only in the defence of common princi- ples against potential eristic attacks.engScienceDialecticFirst principlesCommon principlesProper principlesjournal article10.4013/fsu.2017.181.07