Apophasia

Apophasia (from the Greek ἀπό “against, contrary to” + φάσις “utterance”) ^[1] is a rhetorical device by which the utter refutes his own utterance made earlier ^[2] . Refers to the reception of deliberate illogism .

There is also another name for this figure of speech: paralepsis ( Greek παράλειψις ) - a mention of what was promised to be silent ^[3] . Paralepsis, in turn, is divided into cataphase and proplesis ^[4] .

Katafazis gives a negative assessment of the subject or phenomenon, which should be silent. Used as a discussion tool, for example, in politics:

I refuse to discuss rumors that my opponent is drunk.

Prolēsisis - the use of details and detailed descriptions of what should be kept silent, which brings to the point of absurdity the topic under discussion.

Used in passively aggressive statements:

I forgive you for your jealousy, so I won’t even mention that it was a betrayal.

Socrates's famous saying, “I know that I know nothing,” is a typical example of apophasia. Apophasia is rarely literal, more often it emphasizes a fact already known to the addressee, serves as a rhetorical exclamation.

Often found in verses:

So what will I leave? Forgotten footprints
Insane jealousy and impudence,
Die, my voice, and you, oh false ghost,
You, word, sound empty ...
Oh no!
Shut up, grumble cowardly!
Be proud and rejoice, poet!

- A. Pushkin