Re: Consistent partial falsehood

examachine_at_gmail.com
Date: 02/06/05 

Date: 5 Feb 2005 18:18:41 -0800

Acme Diagnostics wrote:
> examachine@gmail.com wrote:
> >
> >I would like to know if there is a systematic way to detect
partially
> >false theories that "somehow" maintain self-consistency. I am aware
of
> >how disproofs can be carried out in a system whose truth we are sure
> >of, but let's say, for the sake of the discussion, that the very
> >foundations of your speech is shakey. How does one proceed? I think
I'm
> >basically asking what the method of argumentation would be, and what
> >notable instances of this are present in the history of science.
>
> You say "theory" which would normally mean math here. But then
> you say "history of science."
>
> Wrt science, a theory must be falsifiable. Lots of scientific
> theories are consistent but unfalsifiable. So the "method of
> argumentation" is to demonstrate logically that they are
> unfalsifiable, and that's how you would "detect a partially false
> theory."
>
> That's how I refuted DL's language dogma, if you will remember.
>
> Wrt logic, lots of theological theories are closed logic systems.
> That is, they are logically consistent. These can't be refuted
> logically, i.e.
> from within the system (which I think may be your actual
> question), but they can be refuted both scientifically (as above)
> and pragmatically, i.e. by viewing the results outside the theory
> and showing that those results are inconsistent with statements
> within the theory. One technique in the misnamed business of
> "deprogramming."
>
> You already knew that, so that couldn't have been your question.
> But it bears repeating, and maybe an opportunity to improve your
> question.

Hi Larry,

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. Yes, I think I am more or less
familiar with the notions you have presented well. What I had mind was:
did anybody attempt a systematic treatment of this subject? In most
logical work, we are concerned with what makes a valid argument
schemata, but we rarely dwell on invalid ones, etc. Also, I think there
are some nonstandard approaches which tried to formalize partial
inconsistency, etc. Unfortunately, I was taught nothing beyond
multi-valued, modal and temporal logics.

You say that there is no way to detect these systems from the inside,
because everything is consistent, but is this true I wonder, perhaps
there are some commonly occuring _forms_ of argument? Most notably, in
DL's "arguments" and in most medieval theology I sense a distortion of
facts to make it fit into the framework. In addition, there is this
"air of religion" in arguments that explain absolutely nothing while
going in circles. I thought, perhaps an analytic philosopher took pains
to demonstrate how badly language can be used?

Regards, 

--
Eray Ozkural

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