Paradox

George Walford: Through Religion to Anarchism

Although it would be going too far to say that all anarchists oppose all forms of religion, we can safely say that nearly all of them would like to do away with the authoritarian versions.Are they justified? Certainly this form of religion has done a great deal of harm, but after taking full account of… read more »

Harold Walsby: Appendix to The Paradox Principle and Modular Systems Generally

GEOMETRY LOGIC CLASSICAL(dominant 2,000 years) REVOLUTIONARY(challenging the classical) CLASSICAL(dominant 2,000 years) REVOLUTIONARY(challenging the classical) SYSTEM Euclidean Non-Euclidian Aristotolean Non-Aristotolean ELEMENTS lines and points classes and individuals CRUCIAL ELEMENTS parallels opposites GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF CRUCIAL ELEMENTS Eeuclidean parallels are special kinds of lines involving at least two lines and an intervening boundary-space Aristotolian opposites are special… read more »

Harold Walsby: The Paradox Principle and Applications

So far, we have only-considered cases where the modulus is finite. In these systems, infinity appears as implied (therefore potential only) by the indefinite repetition of the finite modular system. That is it is implied by the self-representation or self-reproduction of the system. The finite – modular system itself consists of the finite set of… read more »

Harold Walsby: Models for Self-Contradiction

On considering the examples just given, we are forcibly reminded of a phenomenon which occurs, just occasionally, in thousands of homes. It occurs whenever we see on our television screens a picture of the commentator sitting beside a television set which shows a picture of the commentator sitting beside a television set which shows a… read more »

Harold Walsby: Infinity and Self-Contradiction

Soon after the discovery of the calculus by Newton and Leibniz, problems of consistency in mathematics arose which centred around the concept of “infinity,” i.e. “infinitesimals” or “infinitely small quantities.” The inconsistencies, together with ensuing disputes among mathematicians and philosophers, were not allayed until the middle of the last century. Whether or not Weierstrass, Dedekind… read more »

Harold Walsby: Meaningful Self-Contradictions

Aristotle’s Principle, as we have just seen, implies the existence of some contradictions and denies the existence of others. This would account for the otherwise inexplicable fact that it is sometimes called “the Principle of Contradiction” and sometimes “the Principle of Non-contradiction,” titles which are in flat contradiction of one another! Strictly, of course, since… read more »

Harold Walsby: Three Types of Contradictions

The limits one may set to the term “contradiction” are to some extent arbitrary, since the word is normally used in different senses. I shall use the term in the widest sense compatible with my immediate object. This follows excellent precedent. For example, Aristotle’s Principle is generally applied to “contraries” (such as “black” and “white”)… read more »

Harold Walsby: Do Self-Contradictions Exist?

Before one can deliberately, systematically sit back to contemplate life and its problems, one must have the more urgent preoccupations of the struggle for life taken off one’s mind (and hands). The institution of chattel-slavery made possible the creation of a class society with the more intelligent members of the leisured class roughly divided into… read more »

Harold Walsby: The Role of Logic

It will be useful to take a look in broad-perspective at what we are about to do. I must therefore say a word about the historical role of the principle of Non-contradiction. The usual view of logic is that “natural logic” – sometimes called “native wit” – is inborn, somehow “given” by nature (or Divine… read more »

Harold Walsby: Aristotle’s Principle

Art does not exactly imitate that which can be seen by the eyes, but goes back to that element of reason of which Nature consists and according to which Nature acts. (Goethe) For generations now many artists, poets and mystics have expressed their deep conviction that human reason cannot be bounded by what has often… read more »

Sidebar