Re: Informative tautologies

On Feb 28, 11:45 am, John Jones <jonescard...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Marshall wrote:
On Feb 28, 6:28 am, John Jones <jonescard...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
It might seem a tautology to say that "all the parts constitute a
totality or a whole."

But is this really just another example of the uninformative emptiness
of the tautology? or can a tautology, in some cases, give us information
about a proposal? Consider the following proposals of a whole:

1) 6
2) A bouquet of flowers.
3) The totality of facts.

Do any of these examples deny or require the tautology "all the parts
constitute a totality or a whole"?

It seems to me that if one is going to ask such questions in
an informal way, one is going to get, at best, informal answers.
Specifically the answers one gets will be fuzzy and open to
interpretation. If one is happy with such, that's fine. I believe
there are people who actually *prefer* such answers. (This
is *not* a veiled reference to the OP.)

However if one wants answers that are sharp and precise,
one needs to ask them in the context of a formal system.
At which point, the specific nature of the formal system
becomes a prerequisite question.

Please pardon my not directly addressing your question.

The idea that the sharpness and precision of formalism is NOT founded on
the sharpness and precision of the ideas that its symbols convey, [...]

I didn't say that!

Rather, I am trying to highlight that the relationship between the
symbols and the ideas has to be, at the very least, unambiguous.
English prose does not have this property.


Marshall
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Informative tautologies
    ... Marshall wrote: ... or can a tautology, in some cases, give us information ... The totality of facts. ... one needs to ask them in the context of a formal system. ...
    (sci.logic)
  • Re: Informative tautologies
    ... or can a tautology, in some cases, give us information ... Consider the following proposals of a whole: ... The totality of facts. ... one needs to ask them in the context of a formal system. ...
    (sci.logic)
  • Re: Informative tautologies
    ... But is this really just another example of the uninformative emptiness ... or can a tautology, in some cases, give us information ... Consider the following proposals of a whole: ... The totality of facts. ...
    (sci.logic)
  • Re: Informative tautologies
    ... But is this really just another example of the uninformative emptiness ... or can a tautology, in some cases, give us information ... Consider the following proposals of a whole: ... The totality of facts. ...
    (sci.logic)
  • Informative tautologies
    ... But is this really just another example of the uninformative emptiness of the tautology? ... Consider the following proposals of a whole: ... The totality of facts. ...
    (sci.logic)