ERISTIC, the art of disputation, especially that form of it which aims at personal triumph rather than at the discovery of truth (Greek Epi s, strife) . The Eristics were a group of Sophists led apparently by Euclid of Megara (hence their other name, the Megarians), who were specially addicted to dialectical puzzles (mostly borrowed or adapted from the Eleatics) and other de bating tricks. It was through them and their like that the name of Sophist, otherwise an honourable name, eventually fell into disrepute. See MEGARIAN SCHOOL, and SOPHISTS.