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Life’s Ultimate Questions

“The Law of Noncontradiction”

Christopher Ullman, InstructorChristian Life College

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Passages that are Non-arguments

Any passage lacking a claim that something is being proven is a NON-ARGUMENT.

ARGUMENTS contain INFERRED CLAIMS.NON-ARGUMENTS contain only FACTUAL

CLAIMS, if that.Examples:oThe dog is a brown terrier with black paws.

She also has a pleasant temperament.oI want a glass of water, right now. Give me

yours.

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Let’s Have an Argument!o We will need three things1. At least one PREMISE

A. a statement that is offered as evidence or as a reason to believe for another statement is a premise

B. the BECAUSE part of the argumentC. Example

o “Socrates is a man. o All men are mortal. o Therefore, Socrates is mortal.”

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Let’s Have an Argument! (continued)

2. A CONCLUSION A. a statement in an argument that the

premises are claiming to proveB. the THEREFORE part of the argument C. There is only one conclusion per argumentD. Example

o “Socrates is a man. o All men are mortal. o Therefore, Socrates is mortal.”

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Let’s Have an Argument! (concluded)

Where’s the third thing? 3. An INFERENCE

A. The invisible part of the argumentB. The claim that the premise(s) support the conclusionC. Can be explicit (“Therefore, . . . “)D. Can be implicit (“A fetus is a person from

conception. Elective abortions are immoral.”)E. Involves pressure to agree

o It would be irrational to disagreeo Good arguments leave the hearer no choice but to agree

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Examples of argumentso “The price of a gallon of gasoline has been

going up lately. Therefore, it will probably cost me more to fill my tank next time I need to.”

o “Jake is an unmarried male. All unmarried males are bachelors. Therefore, Jake is a bachelor.”

o “If I can afford to go to Hawaii, I will ask off for vacation. I just found out the rent check bounced! And the cat is pregnant . . . again!

Therefore, no surfing for me.”

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Why an Argument Workso It would be IMPOSSIBLE for the

conclusion of a valid DEDUCTIVE argument to be false.

o It would be HIGHLY IMPROBABLE for the conclusion of a strong INDUCTIVE argument to be false.

o Why?o Because in both cases, the OPPOSITE

of the conclusion would be a CONTRADICTION

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The Principle of Noncontradiction

1. Its father is the Principle of Identity o “It is what it is”o “A = A”

2. Brother to the Principle of the Excluded Middleo “It either is or it isn’t”o “This is either A or non-A, one or the other.”

3. Simply stated, the Principle of Noncontradiction declares contradiction to be nonsensicalo “It is not what it isn’t.”o “A non-A”o A thing (object, person, idea, entity, concept) cannot be

itself and opposite.

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Qualifying the Principle of Noncontradiction

The thing in question cannot be vague or ambiguouso If it is vague or ambiguous, then the principle can’t

be enforcedo Your truth claim will get the response, “Well, it all

depends on what you mean by A.”We must qualify the Principle of Noncontradiction

thuso A thing (object, person, idea, entity, concept) cannot

be itself and its opposite at the same time in the same sense.

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The Necessity of the Principle of Noncontradiction

The medieval philosopher Avicenna once said,

“Anyone who denies the law of non-contradiction should be beaten and burned, until he admits that being beaten is not the same as not being beaten, and being burned is not the same as not being burned.”

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The Necessity of the Principle of Noncontradiction

It can’t be proven, since it must be true for any proof to have any worth whatsoever.

However, the following statements provide indirect and persuasive proof of its necessity

If the principle is denied, then . . .A. . . . significant thinking is impossible.B. . . . significant human conduct is impossible.C. . . . significant communication is impossible.

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The Best Support for the Principle of Noncontradictiono Titus 1:2o Hebrews 6:18 o Numbers 23:19o 2 Samuel 7:28

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Today’s Attack on the Principle

o “The truth is: There is no truth.” – Richard Rorty

o “Nothing is certain.” o “Nobody knows anything for sure.”o “Everything ought to be doubted.” o “What is true for you may not be true for

me.”o “If you think it is, then it is. If you think it

isn’t, then it isn’t. It’s all in a person’s mind.” o “Perception is reality.”

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Self-Referential IncoherenceWhen a statement’s truth is applied to the

statement itself, and The statement cannot then be understood

to be true, thenThis is an example of self-referential

incoherenceThe conclusion is that the statement

cannot be true without being false

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Examples of Self-Referential Incoherence

o “The truth is: There is no truth.” – Richard Rorty

o “Nothing is certain.” o “Nobody knows anything for sure.”o “Everything ought to be doubted.” o “What is true for you may not be true for

me.”o “If you think it is, then it is. If you think it

isn’t, then it isn’t. It’s all in a person’s mind.” o “Perception is reality.”

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Postmodernism1. Pomo is ripened Existentialism, which

taught that . . . A. . . . Chance replaces DestinyB. . . . Freedom replaces RulesC. . . . Experience replaces ReasonD. . . . “Life’s a bad joke. You have to make

the best of it, by making choices, and sticking to them.”

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Postmodernism teaches there can be no . . .

2. . . . Underlying meaning3. . . . Absolutes4. . . . Objective morality5. . . . Objective basis for values6. . . . Individual selvesWhy?

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“ . . . Because Truth is Constructed”

o All beliefs are formed in the context of a society of one kind or another

o It’s impossible to escape the influence of that society

o Societies create “truths” so that power can be obtained and securely held

o Every “truth claim” has an ulterior motive, so . . .

o Be suspicious. Be very suspicious!

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The Vaccination for Postmodernism is

The Principle of Noncontradiction!

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Some Truths About Truth 1. A statement is true if it corresponds

to reality2. A statement is false if it does not

correspond to reality.3. All truth claims are absolute, narrow

and exclusive.4. Truth is discovered, not invented.

o It exists independently of anyone’s knowledge of it.

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Some Truths About Truth (continued)

5. Truth is indispensable for living. o Consider the need for truth in matters relating to

A. SafetyB. MoneyC. RelationshipsD. TransportationE. Court proceedings

6. Beliefs cannot change a fact.7. Truth is transcultural.8. Being raised in a given culture doesn’t

make the beliefs of that culture true.

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Some Truths About Truth (concluded)

9. Truth is not affected by the attitude of the one professing it.

10. Contrary beliefs are possible, but contrary truths are not possible.

11. We can believe everything is true, but we cannot make everything true.

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. . . but none of this is true, if the Principle of Noncontradiction is

ignored!

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Some Truths About Logic1. Logic makes it possible to compare truth

claims. 2. Truth claims about God require logic to be

supported. 3. This means our knowledge of logic is prior to

our knowledge of God. 4. In one sense, God is not subject to logic. o Our statements about God ARE subject to

logic.5. In another sense, God is subject to logic, since

logic represents the principles of rational thought, and God is a rational being.

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. . . but none of this is true, if the Principle of Noncontradiction is

ignored!

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Do we want to live in a world where Truth and Logic are thought

to be Impossible?If so,WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE!YOUR AVAILABLE OPTIONS:Rage

RoarRun

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Escape from the Jungle is Possible

John 114 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the

Father, full of grace and truth. John 146

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 1717 “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”

John 832

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

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Escape from the Jungle is Possible

. . . if and only if the Principle of Noncontradiction is not ignored