Difference between revisions of "Tautology"
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(New page: A '''tautology''' is a statement that is already true by definition, not because of any logical deduction<ref>http://www.apologetics.org/glossary.html</ref>. For instance, "All triangles ...) |
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| − | + | The concept of '''tautology''' has two definitions, one philosophical, one rhetorical. | |
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| + | ''Rhetorical tautology'' <ref>http://www.m-w.com</ref>is defined as "needless repetition of an idea, statement, or word". | ||
| + | An example of a rhetorical tautology would be, for instance, a "godless atheist", or a "three-sided triangle" (as opposed to "all triangles have three sides", which is a definition). | ||
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| + | A ''philosophical tautology'' is <ref>http://www.dictionary.com</ref>"a compound propositional form all of whose instances are true", such as “A or not A.” | ||
| + | For example, "This candidate will win or will not win.” | ||
| + | Another example is "If it rains, it will rain." | ||
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== References == | == References == | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
Revision as of 18:07, April 16, 2007
The concept of tautology has two definitions, one philosophical, one rhetorical.
Rhetorical tautology [1]is defined as "needless repetition of an idea, statement, or word". An example of a rhetorical tautology would be, for instance, a "godless atheist", or a "three-sided triangle" (as opposed to "all triangles have three sides", which is a definition).
A philosophical tautology is [2]"a compound propositional form all of whose instances are true", such as “A or not A.” For example, "This candidate will win or will not win.” Another example is "If it rains, it will rain."