POLL 4 on a very simple argument especially designed for Sarkus

Discussion in 'General Philosophy' started by Speakpigeon, Jan 26, 2019.

?

Is the argument valid?

Poll closed Feb 25, 2019.
  1. No

    16.7%
  2. Yes

    50.0%
  3. I don't know

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  4. The argument doesn't make sense

    33.3%
  1. Sarkus Hippomonstrosesquippedalo phobe Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    10,353
    You think my responses to you are anything more than petting someone's yappy little dog? You really do need to rein in your sense of self-worth.
     
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  3. arfa brane call me arf Valued Senior Member

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    7,832
    Suppose I have a box with some logic gates in it, I know there are AND gates and OR gates. So if I take one of them out of the box, it may be an OR gate, I don't know that it's not an OR gate, but if it isn't it must be an AND gate.

    But how do I find out about "may be an OR gate"? I mean, it's true that it may be, or maybe it isn't . . .

    Your post says the same thing. It's like saying "My car may have some gas in the tank, and I know this is true". What you don't know is how far you'll get if the "may be true" thing, isn't.
    In short, your system of logic is pretty trivial; it doesn't seem to have much closure in it.
     
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  5. arfa brane call me arf Valued Senior Member

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    7,832
    Ok, suppose B may be a set, or B may not be a set. Where are we then? Nowhere.
     
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  7. Speakpigeon Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,123
    "It is true that maybe God exists" is not the same at all as "It is true that God exist".
    You seem unable to accept one without feeling you have to accept the other.
    Your problem, not mine.
    EB
     
  8. Speakpigeon Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,123
    You are.
    EB
     
  9. Speakpigeon Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,123
    Your posting here is entirely the result of by your inability to properly understand such a simple thing as "x may be y".
    EB
     
  10. arfa brane call me arf Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,832
    No it's not my problem. You posting crap like that is a problem though, but only for you.
    It may be true that you don't have a problem, which is different from it is true that you have a problem.

    The problem you have is that you talk a lot of bullshit and expect everyone to figure out if maybe it really is bullshit. But you insisting that I or Sarkus, or anyone who's had a go at maybe understanding your bullshit can't understand the phrase "may be true".

    That has to be complete bullshit. Grow up you silly little boy.
     
  11. iceaura Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    30,994
    There is no assumption.That's a deduction, from this:
    - - -
    It's doing a couple of different, and mutually exclusive, things - depending on what is needed for a given substitution of the variables.
     
  12. Yazata Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    5,902
    I'm not aware of any problem translating 'might be' with ◇. For example, see pp.9ff here:

    https://ucirvine.instructure.com/courses/3605/files/1250347/download

    Or the discussion of modal logic in the IEP, which begins (highlighting by me), "Modal notions go beyond the merely true or false by embedding what we say or think in a larger conceptual space referring to what might be or might have been, should be or should have been, or can still come to be. Modal expressions occur in a remarkably wide range across natural languages, from necessity, possibility and contingency to expressions of time, action, change, causality, information, knowledge, belief, obligation, permission, and far beyond. Accordingly, contemporary modal logic is the general study of representation for such notions and of reasoning with them."

    https://www.iep.utm.edu/modal-lo/

    Here's something that points out some of the complexities in translating natural language into logical symbolism in predicate logic. (Modal logic can be expected to be even worse.) My point here is that natural language is often logically ambiguous which is one of the motivations for introducing logical symbolism in the first place.

    https://cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/191/S09/transtip-pnllogic.html
     
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2019
  13. Speakpigeon Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,123
    Sure, people are free to do whatever and they do. But my argument uses "may", not "might". And the set of all cases that may be true includes the set of all cases that might be true. Not the reverse. "It may be that p" means we don't know that not p, while "It might be that p" means we don't know that not p but the probability that p is low.
    EB
     
  14. Sarkus Hippomonstrosesquippedalo phobe Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    10,353
    Yet BOTH express possibility. Your argument is with regard possibility. It is irrelevant whether that possibility is remote or highly likely. BOTH express possibility. Thus using either "may" or "might" is entirely acceptable as an expression of that possibility. Your issue here is thus nothing more than your desire to argue.
     
  15. Sarkus Hippomonstrosesquippedalo phobe Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    10,353
    I understand it. I understand your argument. I find it invalid for reasons stated, reasons that you have yet to provide anything sensible with which to rebut them. In fact your postings here and in other threads are becoming increasingly devoid of anything other than desperation to support your view, but to continue arguing nonetheless.
    Maybe the argument is valid, but unless you are able to actually show us where the arguments for why it is invalid are erroneous, which you haven't yet done, I'll go with those who have actually supported their position. Oh, is this where you further your Galileo gambit?
     
  16. Baldeee Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    2,226
    If in doubt, best not to feed them, Sarkus.

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

     
  17. Speakpigeon Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,123
    I've explained why they differ.
    EB
     
  18. Speakpigeon Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,123
    I've explained why the proofs of invalidity proposed by some of you were not effective here.
    We disagree, move on.
    Unless, maybe, you think there is something like an absolute proof?
    EB
     
  19. Speakpigeon Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,123
    I don't care for proving. I asked whether the argument was valid. Thanks to those who replied.
    EB
     
  20. Sarkus Hippomonstrosesquippedalo phobe Valued Senior Member

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    10,353
    And that reason is irrelevant with regard to their usage in your argument your purposes of the argument. Both express possibility, your intention and purpose of argument is with regard possibility. Any issue you have beyond that is your ego, your arrogance, and your desire to pick fights for the purpose of fighting.
    And your explanations have been shown to be unfounded.
    Yes, we disagree. But some put forward justification, you put forward... nothing but confidence and desperation.
    For a given definition of validity, yes, there is. You have provided neither a definition of validity nor a proof, or even substantial argument, in support of your position.
    Yet you claim everyone who doesn't agree with you as being wrong. You cant believe how many consider it invalid. Yet in support of your position, across four, five, or six threads, you offer... nothing.
    You try to place yourself on a pedestal, but fail to realise that you're in a dolls house. So here's an idea: step out of the dolls house, put aside your ego, and try to have an actual discussion with people. Or am I aspiring to too much of you?
     
  21. Quantum Quack Life's a tease... Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    23,328
    I am surprised that a definitive answer is being asked for, valid or invalid when in fact the only answer is "maybe" either.
    Surely when an argument is as ambiguous and uncertain as this one is there can only be a vague, uncertain response to it.
     
  22. James R Just this guy, you know? Staff Member

    Messages:
    39,397
    Neither do I. But Speakpigeon also wants to introduce a spurious distinction between the words "may" and "might", according to his own preference. As has already been pointed out, his argument only deals with possibility, not probability, and in that context the distinction, even if he wants to make it, is irrelevant.
     
  23. arfa brane call me arf Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,832
    I think I've sorted this one:

    A statement that can be true, might be true. Then it may be that a statement which might be true, actually is true.
    It's possible . . .

    On the other hand a statement that can be false, might actually be true at the same time, if it can be!
    Logic, huh? what a crock.
     

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