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Single Idea 9138

[from 'Paradox without Self-Reference' by Stephen Yablo, in 5. Theory of Logic / L. Paradox / 6. Paradoxes in Language / a. The Liar paradox ]

Full Idea

Banning self-reference is too narrow to avoid the liar paradox. With 1) all the subsequent sentences are false, 2) all the subsequent sentences are false, 3) all the subsequent... the paradox still arises. Self-reference is a special case of this.

Gist of Idea

An infinite series of sentences asserting falsehood produces the paradox without self-reference

Source

report of Stephen Yablo (Paradox without Self-Reference [1993]) by Roy Sorensen - Vagueness and Contradiction 11.1

Book Reference

Sorensen,Roy: 'Vagueness and Contradiction' [OUP 2004], p.168


A Reaction

[Idea 9137 pointed out that the ban was too narrow. Sorensen p.168 explains why this one is paradoxical] This is a nice example of progress in philosophy, since the Greeks would have been thrilled with this idea (unless they knew it, but it was lost).

Related Idea

Idea 9137 Banning self-reference would outlaw 'This very sentence is in English' [Sorensen]