Why is it that we are unable to think in contraries? We say a thing is either "A" or "NOT A". Or a t hing cannot be A and not A at the same time, Why are they so? Please give some thought, many thanks.
2007-02-26 04:43:30 · 5 answers · asked by polymath 1 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
At a temperature of 0 degrees celcius water can freeze and water can melt
I see no problem here.
Tomorrow it can rain and tomorrow it can not rain , even at the same time
again no problem here
after some coffee I think that most real life statements that some-one says can be true and false at the same time : because a statement is never exact enough its easy to find a constraint that both (stament and negation) can have but is not mentioned explicitly in the statement and there is the little space where you can play
2007-02-26 05:21:43 · answer #1 · answered by gjmb1960 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's like asking why we are unable to imagine things in higher dimensions. In fact, some of us can, but it does take a little extra effort. For most people, it's easy for them to understand (or believe) that for any A, there's a Not-A. It simplifies and categories things, even if erroneously. Such as, "A chair or a not-a-chair", or "A good person or a not-a-good person", or "A correct move or a not-a-correct move". The reality is that there are many things that cannot be exactly cateogorized into either A or Not-A, a fact abundantly clear in quantum physics as well as practical examples in real life, but most people don't want to bother with the shadings. Some even believe that to deal or think in terms of shades is immoral.
Of course, among logicians, mathematicians, and physicists, it's known that the world is not so clear cut. Entire branches of study are devoted to the study of non-predicate, or alternative logic such as quantum logic, which takes it beyond the simple "A or Not-A" level.
2007-02-26 05:45:59 · answer #2 · answered by Scythian1950 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We do.
cognitive dissonance: we feel the discomfort of contradiction, and then reinterpret reality to suit our prejudices. The contradiction is temporary. This is a cheap form of thinking that benefits only religion, racism and other unlovely artifacts of ignorance.
creative tension: we recognise the contradiction, and work with it. This takes a bit of hipsway, a bit of un-presbyterian thinking if you like, but it can be very useful in creative processes. This generates art.
diligent study: we recognise that an apparent contradiction is nothing more than a flag that indicates our incomplete understanding of a situation. We go do more science, and the contradiction is removed, or (at least) moved elsewhere. This generates knowledge.
2007-02-26 04:52:26 · answer #3 · answered by wild_eep 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One mutually excludes the other. Its that old ego of the Id divided by Superego.
2007-02-26 04:51:40 · answer #4 · answered by SiLKy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Things cannot be true and false at the same time.
2007-02-26 04:49:20 · answer #5 · answered by Gene 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋