more from 'works' by Blaise Pascal

Single Idea 10121

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / D. Assumptions for Logic / 3. Contradiction]

Full Idea

Contradiction is not a sign of falsity, nor the lack of contradiction a sign of truth.

Gist of Idea

Contradiction is not a sign of falsity, nor lack of contradiction a sign of truth

Source

Blaise Pascal (works [1660]), quoted by A.George / D.J.Velleman - Philosophies of Mathematics Ch.6

Book Reference

George,A/Velleman D.J.: 'Philosophies of Mathematics' [Blackwell 2002], p.164


A Reaction

[Quoted in Auden and Kronenberger's Book of Aphorisms] Presumably we would now say that contradiction is a purely formal, syntactic notion, and not a semantic one. If you hit a contradiction, something has certainly gone wrong.