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Single Idea 4333

[filed under theme 2. Reason / B. Laws of Thought / 4. Contraries ]

Full Idea

Contraries are by definition as far distant as possible from one another.

Gist of Idea

Contraries are by definition as far distant as possible from one another

Source

Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics [c.334 BCE], 1108b33)

Book Ref

Aristotle: 'Ethics (Nicomachean)', ed/tr. ThomsonJ A K/TredennickH [Penguin 1976], p.108


A Reaction

A nice concept and definition. Note that it is being used about ethics (the mean), not just about pure logic or mathematics.


The 9 ideas with the same theme [could both be false, but can't both be true]:

Only one thing can be contrary to something [Plato]
The contrary of good is bad, but the contrary of bad is either good or another evil [Aristotle]
Both sides of contraries need not exist (as health without sickness, white without black) [Aristotle]
From one thing alone we can infer its contrary [Aristotle]
Contraries are by definition as far distant as possible from one another [Aristotle]
In "Callias is just/not just/unjust", which of these are contraries? [Aristotle]
There is no middle ground in contradiction, but there is in contrariety [Aristotle]
Two falsehoods can be contrary to one another [Aristotle]
Contrary pairs entail contradictions; one member entails negation of the other [Lipton]