Hi All:
For those wondering about paraconsistent logic as I was on first
hearing the term, there's a thorough explanation at:
http://www.logic.ru/Russian/LogStud/02/LS_2_e_Beziau.pdf
I confess to finding much of the explanation beyond my
comprehension. But, the following passage I do understand:
"People saying that there are contradictions everywhere, without any
rational support, and that paraconsistent logic is therefore our
salvation, are similar to people alerting about a terrible disease in
order to sell a wonderful drug especially made to cure this disease.
But maybe there is no disease and the drug is a placebo. A group of
people can get power by saying that they can control dangerous
creatures that are the product of their imagination. This remembers the
story of religions frightening people with devils in order to convert them
to their Churches."
In other words, paraconsistent logic may be a form of demagoguery
which is enough in my book to raise cautionary yellow flags, especially
since this new logic appears to have been adopted by some in the
postmodernist camp.
Still, I'm fascinated by paradoxes and, together with humor, believe they
get close to the fire to truth. IMO "Catch 22" which is all about paradox
is one of best books of the 20th century, and much of the appeal for me
of LILA are its flashes of "real life" humor in an otherwise serious
philosophical presentation. "That's a good dog" is a funny line in
response to "What kind of dog is that?" And there are scenes, like
Pirsig dancing in the bar with Lila, that can be played for laughs.
So to end with paradox apropos of paraconsistent logic which rejects
the principle of non contradiction:
There is no logical reason for rational thought.
Platt
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