Are Contradictions Believable?. (25th January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Weiss, Yale
• Is Part Of: Thought. Volume 8:Number 1(2019:Mar.)
• Page Start: 42
• Page End: 49
• Publication Date: 2019-01-25
• Subjects: contradiction -- doxastic logic -- belief -- modal logic -- inconsistent belief; Philosophy -- Periodicals; Logic -- Periodicals; Knowledge, Theory of -- Periodicals; 105
• DOI: 10.1002/tht3.403
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2161-2234

Abstract

Abstract : A number of philosophers deny that contradictions can be believed. Are they correct? In this note, I show that even in quite weak logics, on pain of inconsistency, if there are false beliefs, either there are propositions which are true but unbelievable or contradictions are believable. Since the antecedent clearly holds, I offer some considerations in favor of the latter disjunct. Objections and variants of the main argument are considered.