I very much like your syllogistic example. It illustrates today’s situation. What you say reminds me of the book Finite and Infinite Games by James P. Carse, in which he talks about the difference between playing within a narrow set of rules in which there is a winner and a loser versus playing a wider game in which the game continues without losers. The game Carse has in mind is dialogue among people, and he says that there are those who want to stop the game and use the tactics like you describe. It’s an interesting book.