Single Idea 1554

[catalogued under 19. Language / F. Communication / 3. Denial]

Full Idea

Prodicus insists that contradiction is impossible, since if two people are contradicting each other, they cannot both be speaking of the same fact. Only the one who is speaking the truth is speaking of facts as they are; the other does not speak facts.

Gist of Idea

Contradiction is impossible, since only one side of the argument refers to the true facts

Source

report of Prodicus (fragments/reports [c.423 BCE]) by Didymus the Blind - Commentary on Ecclesiastes (frags)

Book Reference

'The First Philosophers', ed/tr. Waterfield,Robin [OUP 2000], p.246


A Reaction

cf. Kant's 100 thalers example