View source for Hume's fork

'''Hume's Fork''' is an [[ontological principle]] which states that all statements fall into one of two [[discrete]] [[categories]]. Statements can either be [[analytic]] or [[synthetic]]. Note that this says nothing about the [[truth]] value of the statements, although [[bivalence]] is assumed.

Analytic statements are based on [[a priori]] knowledge, are necessarily and definitively true or false, and true or false by [[definition]]. Their [[truth]] or [[falsehood]] is often, but not always, obvious. All [[tautology|tautologous]] ('all hamburgers are hamburgers'), [[axiom]]atic ('this triangle has 6 sides'), [[math]]ematical ('2+2=5'), or [[predicate]]-contained ('all bachelors are unmarried') statements are analytic. Analytic reasoning uses [[deductive logic]].

Synthetic statements are based on [[a posteriori]] knowledge in the physical world, are likely to be true or false based on the strength of their supporting arguments. Scientific ('at sea level and under normal atmospheric pressure, pure water boils at 100 degrees centigrade'), physical ('the sun will rise tomorrow'), existensial ('God exists'), and most day-to-day ('my car is red') statements are synthetic. Synthetic reasoning uses [[inductive logic]].

Many [[arguments for the existence of God]] and [[arguments against the existence of God]] are based on synthetic statements and inductive reasoning. A notable exception to this is the [[ontological argument]], which is wholly analytic.

[[Category:Ontological Principles]]