Generating Moores Paradox
Uploaded by richierich on Oct 26, 2011
This paper describes the kinds of statements necessary to give rise to Moore’s paradox
I Introduction
Moore’s paradox was developed by philosopher G.E. Moore, who was struck by the idea that there are semantic constructs that can be consistent and inconsistent at the same time.
This paper discusses Question #2 of the topic, “What sort of statement gives rise to Moore’s paradox?”
II Discussion
The typical example given as the basis for Moore’s paradox is “It’s raining but I don’t believe it.” However, according to at least one source there is not necessarily a logical inconsistency between the fact of it raining and someone’s not believing it. Perhaps they live somewhere where it hasn’t rained in months and is not expected to rain for several more months, so that when it does rain, they believe it is something else. The more general form of the statement is “It’s p but I believe not-p.” This indicates that something p is extant, but the person does not believe it. When this occurs, and we have a statement that is genuinely consistent and inconsistent at the same time, we have the factors necessary to generate Moore’s paradox.
Much of the argument about Moore has to do with semantics and shades of meaning, so it’s important to construct a statement that cannot be interpreted so as to resolve the inconsistency. (This is more difficult that it first appears.) The heart of the matter seems to be constructing a statement in which the two halves are individually true, but together they become inconsistent. “Moorean absurdity emerges in cases in which one supposes a proposition for the sake of argument rather than asserting it or judging it true, while at the same time asserting or judging that one’s state of mind is not one of entertaining such a supposition.” (Green, PG). In other words, I say that I suppose it is raining (not that it is raining or that I judge it to be raining), and then at the same time I say I am not in a fit state of mind to think about such a supposition. How can I even make a statement if I’m not thinking about it? This is the type of thing that generates Moore’s paradox; it also leads into another area of inquiry, and that is the nature of consciousness.
III Conclusion
It is surprisingly...