It is said to have parallels with that of the Ancient Greek sophists or dialecticians. However, individuals widely recognized as dialecticians exist outside of the German Dialectical Tradition. One is that called, 'thesis' by the [Greek] dialecticians. He is regarded as one of the foremost dialecticians in the history of Indian philosophy. It has since become a tool of dialecticians, linguists and international business. This violence, however, defeated his purpose, which was to discredit the dialecticians. However, this debate between "mechanists" and "dialecticians" would retain importance long after the 1920s. The members of this school were called "dialecticians" (from a Greek word meaning "to discuss"). His pupils and successors were called "Megarians", or "Eristics", and later the "Dialecticians". Dialecticians claim that unity or identity of opposites can exist in reality or in thought.