The law of non-contradiction simply states that something cannot be both A and non-A at the same time.

If a person decides that the law of non-contradiction is incorrect he must then say that his position, or another position of which he is aware is correct.

The problem with that declaration is that, if the law of non-contradiction is correct, it is incorrect to declare it incorrect. After all, it’s not that it must be either correct or incorrect; it may be both correct and incorrect, if the logic of those who oppose the law of non-contradiction is followed to its end. Thus the logic of declaring it incorrect fails.

The other problem is that, if the law of non-contradiction is declared incorrect, one must use the law of non-contradiction to declare it incorrect. After all, one must say “Either my position is correct, or the law of non-contradiction is correct.” What that does is tell us that both his position and the law of non-contradiction are unable to be correct at the same time. What just happened with such a statement? The law of non-contradiction was used to declare the law of non-contradiction wrong. The person opposing the law of non-contradiction declares that it cannot be correct and incorrect at the same time, so it is incorrect. He also says that his position cannot be correct and incorrect at the same time, so his position is correct.

That is why I declared that to deny the law of non-contradiction is to descend into irrationality. To oppose the law of non-contradiction is similar to a person saying, “Words have no meaning!” To which I respond, “And yet you think your words do have meaning.”

The law of non-contradiction is inevitable. We use it when we stand on the street corner. We look and see a bus coming. Do we believe that life and non-life can exist in our bodies at the same time? Do we step out in front of the bus? The law of non-contradiction is a matter of “either, or” as opposed to “both, and.” Why? Because it is not both the bus and I, it is either me or the bus.

Related articles

• Descending Into Irrationality (pastoralmusings.com)