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Single Idea 16909

[filed under theme 12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 10. A Priori as Subjective ]

Full Idea

That logic is a priori consists in the fact that we cannot think illogically.

Gist of Idea

Logic is a priori because we cannot think illogically

Source

Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1921], 5.4731), quoted by Robin Jeshion - Frege's Notion of Self-Evidence 4

Book Ref

-: 'Mind' [-], p.973

A Reaction

A rather startling claim. Presumably we have to say that when we draw a stupid inference, then we weren't really 'thinking'?

The 7 ideas with the same theme [a priori knowledge is the product of individual minds-]:

12518 The mind cannot produce simple ideas [Locke]
5567 A priori the understanding can only anticipate possible experiences [Kant]
16914 A priori intuition of objects is only possible by containing the form of my sensibility [Kant]
16909 Logic is a priori because we cannot think illogically [Wittgenstein]
12416 We have some self-knowledge a priori, such as knowledge of our own existence [Kitcher]
9339 A priori knowledge (e.g. classical logic) may derive from the innate structure of our minds [Horwich]
3913 Maybe imagination is the source of a priori justification [Casullo]