Single Idea 1889

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / B. Certain Knowledge / 2. Common Sense Certainty]

Full Idea

If an argument leads to confessedly absurd conclusions, we should not assent to the absurdity just because of the argument, but avoid the argument because of the absurdity.

Gist of Idea

If an argument has an absurd conclusion, we should not assent to the absurdity, but avoid the absurd argument

Source

Sextus Empiricus (Outlines of Pyrrhonism [c.180], II.252)

Book Reference

Sextus Empiricus: 'Outlines of Pyrrhonism', ed/tr. Bury,R.G. [Prometheus 1990], p.182


A Reaction

cf. G.E.Moore. Denying that you have a hand seems to be an absurdity, but I'm not sure if I can give a criterion for absurdity in such a case. One person's modus ponens is another person's modus tollens.