Beliefs, Values, and Consistency (Part I): What are contradictions, and WHERE are they?
It is not uncommon to hear in a discussion the accusation “you’re contradicting yourself.” But what is the role of contradictions in human thought? It is certainly a meaningful statement as evidenced by its use, but what does that actually mean? Using a particular set of grammatical rules and language guidelines (i.e. strict word definitions), it is certainly possible to write down two contradictory things. One popular, almost hack-neyed example often used in philosophy is the classic “round square.” We can certainly write it, though it is a contradiction “on paper.” In other words, with the definitions of “round” and “square” as we know them, no such thing exists or could ever exist. One valid test is whether you can think of – or more precisely, conceive of – the purported object. Can you think of a “round square”? Some people might think they have come up with a solution, but I can assure you that it’s impossible, though my assurances aren’t worth jack (which is why I will discuss it in better detail later on). More generally, the question to ask is, “can someone ever think a contradiction?”
