
G. E. Moore famously observed that to assert, 'I went to the pictures last Tuesday but I don't believe that I did' would be 'absurd'. Moore calls it a 'paradox' that this absurdity persists despite the fact that what I say about myself might be true. Over half a century later, such sayings continue to perplex philosophers and other students of language, logic, and cognition. Ludwig Wittgenstein was fascinated by Moore's example, and the absurdity of Moore's saying was intensively discussed in the mid-20th century. Yet the source of the absurdity has remained elusive, and its recalcitrance has led researchers in recent decades to address it with greater care. In this definitive treatment of the problem of Moorean absurdity Green and Williams survey the history and relevance of the paradox and leading approaches to resolving it, and present new essays by leading thinkers in the area. Contributors Jonathan Adler, Bradley Armour-Garb, Jay D. Atlas, Thomas Baldwin, Claudio de Almeida, André Gallois, Robert Gordon, Mitchell Green, Alan Hájek, Roy Sorensen, John Williams
This collection investigates the source of the absurdity inherent in Moorean sentences, where an individual asserts a fact while simultaneously denying their belief in that fact. Editors John N. Williams and Mitchell S. Green compile a series of essays from prominent philosophers to examine why statements like 'I went to the pictures but I don't believe I did' remain logically problematic despite their potential truth. The volume provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the intersection of belief, rationality, and first-person perspective.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Experts recognize this volume as a comprehensive resource for those studying the intersection of language and belief. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for advanced students and professional philosophers.
Page Count:
272
Publication Date:
2007-01-01
ISBN-10:
0191515728
ISBN-13:
9780191515729
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