"The soul's deeper parts can only be reached through its surface. In this way the eternal forms, that mathematics and philosophy and the other sciences make us acquainted with, will by slow percolation gradually reach the core of one's being; and will come to influence our lives..." C.S. Peirce.
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Friday, November 20, 2009
Love Is In The Air
For my students, a little fun with logic. Consider the following syllogism. Does the conclusion (3) follow from the premises (1, 2)?
1) Everyone loves a lover;
2) John loves Jane;
3) Therefore, everyone loves everyone.
There are some premises that are assumed. If John loves Jane, then John is a lover. If everyone loves a lover, then everyone loves John. If everyone loves John, then everyone is a lover. If everyone is a lover, then everyone loves everyone.
Of course, this assumes that "love" means the same thing in each premise.
To me it'd seem that 3) everyone loves John, and that for 3) to be true by those premises, 2) would have to read "everyone loves Jane." Or..?
ReplyDeleteThere are some premises that are assumed. If John loves Jane, then John is a lover. If everyone loves a lover, then everyone loves John. If everyone loves John, then everyone is a lover. If everyone is a lover, then everyone loves everyone.
ReplyDeleteOf course, this assumes that "love" means the same thing in each premise.