The Law Of Non-Contradiction
Posted by Pastoral Musings on May 12th, 2012
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.
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- Descending Into Irrationality (pastoralmusings.com)
July 24th, 2012 at 6:38 pm
The laws of logic are indispensable not only for communication but for thought itself. The laws of logic transcend all knowledge and expression and to rationally deny them is impossible. Though we are more peaceable as Christians, one can agree with the sentiment of the Persian philosopher Avicenna (who died in 1035 A.D.) who said…
“Anyone who denies the law of non-contradiction should be beaten and burned until he admits that to be beaten is not the same as not to be beaten, and to be burned is not the same as not to be burned.”
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July 24th, 2012 at 6:45 pm
Thanks for the comments. Interesting…the latter is somewhat amusing.
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July 25th, 2012 at 1:51 pm
I agree with the law of non-contradiction – who is against it?
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July 25th, 2012 at 2:07 pm
Oddly enough, I was attacked by a theological liberal/liberation theologian who did not agree with it.
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