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Single Idea 13334

[filed under theme 5. Theory of Logic / L. Paradox / 1. Paradox ]

Full Idea

Group A consists of contradictions which would occur in a logical or mathematical system, involving terms such as class or number. Group B contradictions are not purely logical, and contain some reference to thought, language or symbolism.

Gist of Idea

Contradictions are either purely logical or mathematical, or they involved thought and language

Source

Frank P. Ramsey (The Foundations of Mathematics [1925], p.171), quoted by Graham Priest - The Structure of Paradoxes of Self-Reference 1

Book Ref

-: 'Mind' [-], p.26


A Reaction

This has become the orthodox division of all paradoxes, but the division is challenged by Priest (Idea 13373). He suggests that we now realise (post-Tarski?) that language is more involved in logic and mathematics than we thought.

Related Idea

Idea 13373 Typically, paradoxes are dealt with by dividing them into two groups, but the division is wrong [Priest,G]


The 23 ideas from Frank P. Ramsey

"It is true that x" means no more than x [Ramsey]
Sentence meaning is given by the actions to which it would lead [Ramsey]
Either 'a = b' vacuously names the same thing, or absurdly names different things [Ramsey]
Formalists neglect content, but the logicists have focused on generalizations, and neglected form [Ramsey]
Formalism is hopeless, because it focuses on propositions and ignores concepts [Ramsey]
Reducibility: to every non-elementary function there is an equivalent elementary function [Ramsey]
Infinity: there is an infinity of distinguishable individuals [Ramsey]
Contradictions are either purely logical or mathematical, or they involved thought and language [Ramsey]
I just confront the evidence, and let it act on me [Ramsey]
A belief is knowledge if it is true, certain and obtained by a reliable process [Ramsey]
Belief is knowledge if it is true, certain, and obtained by a reliable process [Ramsey]
Mental terms can be replaced in a sentence by a variable and an existential quantifier [Ramsey]
Ramsey's Test: believe the consequent if you believe the antecedent [Ramsey, by Read]
All knowledge needs systematizing, and the axioms would be the laws of nature [Ramsey]
Causal laws result from the simplest axioms of a complete deductive system [Ramsey]
Asking 'If p, will q?' when p is uncertain, then first add p hypothetically to your knowledge [Ramsey]
Ramsey gave axioms for an uncertain agent to decide their preferences [Ramsey, by Davidson]
'If' is the same as 'given that', so the degrees of belief should conform to probability theory [Ramsey, by Ramsey]
Obviously 'Socrates is wise' and 'Socrates has wisdom' express the same fact [Ramsey]
The distinction between particulars and universals is a mistake made because of language [Ramsey]
We could make universals collections of particulars, or particulars collections of their qualities [Ramsey]
The 'simple theory of types' distinguishes levels among properties [Ramsey, by Grayling]
Beliefs are maps by which we steer [Ramsey]