Single Idea 21983

[catalogued under 2. Reason / B. Laws of Thought / 3. Non-Contradiction]

Full Idea

Pure being and pure nothing are the same, ...but on the contrary they are not the same ...they are absolutely distinct. ...This is the identity of identity and non-identity.

Gist of Idea

Being and nothing are the same and not the same, which is the identity of identity and non-identity

Source

Georg W.F.Hegel (Science of Logic [1816], I.i.i.1C p.82,74), quoted by A.W. Moore - The Evolution of Modern Metaphysics 07.7

Book Reference

Moore,A.W.: 'The Evolution of Modern Metaphysics' [CUP 2013], p.182


A Reaction

Even Moore, who is very patient with Hegel, gets cross at this point, describing such talk as 'shocking'. He's not wrong. Moore later says that the reason in reality tolerates contradictions, but human understanding can't.

Related Idea

Idea 21974 The world seems rational to those who look at it rationally [Hegel]