Intro to Ayer - Links and Such

Well, we're done with Freud and on to...

AYER!!!

As usual, some links to introduce you to this scintillating savant of scholarly scenarios:

First, a longish but very informative and *unbiased* article called A.J. Ayer's Philosophy and its Greatness. If that doesn't interest you, but logic does, then perhaps you'd like to drop by the "Fallacy Files." (I admit it's not quite as much fun as the X-Files, but it's informative, and hey - I'm doing my best...) If you're interested in the category error Ayer talks about, check out this passage from Alice and Wonderland - it does a great job elucidating the problem. And as always, if you're looking for more info go to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Okay, now for some F-U-N: first, we have a little thing called "stickman logic". It's actually a logic-as-modern-art thing, pretty funny stuff. If that's not for you, I have something even more exciting: learn logic with Beavis and Butthead!! Who knew logic could be so much fun!

For anyone who didn't believe me that with predicate logic you can prove...well, just about anything...here is a link that shows you that the whole world is a goat. (Just think about how you can impress your friends and parents when they ask you what you learned this year at university!)

Briefly, here is the proof for the Goat Thesis:

Goatism Proved by Logic!

Introduction to Propositional Logic

In Propositional Logic every statement is either true or false. There is no third way. For example, the proposition "It is raining outside" is either true or not true. Furthermore, if a statement is false then it's opposite is true. So, if "It is raining outside" is a false statement, then it's opposite "It is not raining outside" must be true.

The Logical Proof

1. The proposition "Everything is a Goat" is either true or not true.
2. If it is false, then it's opposite must be true.
3. The opposite of "everything" is "nothing", which give us the proposition "Nothing is a Goat".*
4. Now, this statement is clearly false, for goats certainly exist - we have all seen them. This means that it's opposite must be true.
5. Therefore, "Everything is a Goat" must be a true statement.

Now, those of you who are down with fuzzy logic know this isn't necessarily "true" but it is "correct". So there.

Okay, now just a few things that might be of interest: This is a site for the awesome new game PHILOSOFIGHTER (a sample image - of Hobbes fighting Kant - is above). This is a fun site called "Philosophy of the Beatles" - smart/funny whether you like the fabulous foursome or not.

Alrighty, have fun and I'll see you Monday.

Clara