Single Idea 9123

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

Full Idea

Priest says there is room for contradictions. He gives the example of someone in a doorway; is he in or out of the room. Given that in and out are mutually exclusive and exhaustive, and neither is the default, he seems to be both in and not in.

Gist of Idea

Someone standing in a doorway seems to be both in and not-in the room

Source

report of Graham Priest (What is so bad about Contradictions? [1998]) by Roy Sorensen - Vagueness and Contradiction 4.3

Book Reference

Sorensen,Roy: 'Vagueness and Contradiction' [OUP 2004], p.73


A Reaction

Priest is a clever lad, but I don't think I can go with this. It just seems to be an equivocation on the word 'in' when applied to rooms. First tell me the criteria for being 'in' a room. What is the proposition expressed in 'he is in the room'?