Rationally Speaking #72 - Graham Priest on Paradoxes and Paraconsistent Logic
Oct 21, 2012
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Explore the world of paradoxes and paraconsistent logic with a philosopher and logician as they discuss how statements can be both true and false, unravel the mysteries of the barber paradox, and delve into the evolution of thoughts on infinitude in mathematics. Discover how paraconsistent logic can navigate contradictions in mathematics, and get book recommendations for philosophical insights and logic.
Paraconsistent logic allows controlled consequences from contradictions without leading to logical chaos.
Dialetheism challenges traditional views by accepting some contradictions as true, requiring paraconsistent logic for consistency.
Deep dives
Exploring Paraconsistent Logic
Paraconsistent logic challenges the traditional view that contradictions lead to everything being true. The principle of inference called explosion, where an inconsistency makes everything follow, is a recent piece of logical technology. It ensures that contradictions are contained like singularities, not causing havoc. This logic, unlike explosion-prone systems, allows controlled consequences from contradictions, making it vital for information processing where corrupt data must not lead to a complete breakdown.
Historical Applications of Paraconsistent Logic
Paraconsistent logic finds relevance in historical scientific theories that were explicitly inconsistent, like ball theory of the atom and the early calculus. These theories operated sensibly despite their inconsistencies, showcasing the need for a logic that doesn't explode into all-encompassing contradictions. It highlights how paraconsistent logic enabled reasoning in theories that contained contradictions without causing logical chaos.
Understanding and Applying Dialetheism
Dialetheism, a view that some contradictions are true, presents a challenge in semantics and metaphysics. Adhering to dialetheism demands using paraconsistent logic to prevent contradictions from leading to unacceptable consequences. This connection underscores the importance of employing paraconsistent logic in scenarios where accepting some contradictions as true is necessary to maintain consistency without triggering logical explosions.
Logic, Mathematics, and Godel's Theorems
Paraconsistent logic offers a way to navigate around the limitations imposed by Godel's theorems on mathematics. While conventional logic may result in incomplete or inconsistent mathematical theories, paraconsistent logic explores the possibility of complete yet inconsistent theories. This flexibility allows a deeper engagement with mathematical challenges and philosophical implications, showcasing the dynamic interplay between logic, mathematics, and complex theoretical frameworks.
Can a statement be simultaneously true and false? That might seem like sheer nonsense to you -- but not to certain modern logicians. In this episode Massimo and Julia are joined again by philosopher and logician Graham Priest, who explains why we have to radically revise our notions of "true" and "false." In the process, he explains classic puzzlers like the "barber paradox": "In a village, the barber shaves all men who do not shave themselves. Does he shave himself?" Follow along for an episode that really takes to heart the podcast's tagline: exploring the borderlands between reason and nonsense.
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