Do you believe tautologies are worthless?

Question

I do not. I do not understand why many people consider them worthless. Why do you?

tic: in the case you cited, "man" is a redundancy, doing nothing to define the subject. A tautology uses a concept twice to prove the meaning of its first instance is supported by a variation in the second instance, for example "existence exists."
We know a widower is a person, but saying "The widower is a husbandless person" does not prove the first instance with the second.

Answer 1

Reasoning in a circle is satisfying.

Using standard rules of replacement, what appears to common sense as redundancy, in propositional logic becomes a means of manipulating more complex structures into different configurations, while retaining their interrelations. It is similar to a topological manipulation which retains the basic spatial interrelations.

So, tautologies are useful in propositional logic, in moving a "topologic set" of relations into various non-deformed configurations. However, they add no truth beyond the truthfulness of the original premises and their various implicit relations.

regards,

j.

Answer 2

Did you know that everyone has some degree of this at some point or another? First of all, I'm glad to hear you don't judge yourself based on what others think of you, it's unfortunate though that you judge yourself so harshly. This is likely a product of your conscience. That doesn't mean that you're actually a crappy person however, it just means that you're expectations of yourself don't balance out with your actual self. There are two things you can do: you can either work on some of the things you feel you should be able to expect of yourself, or you should take an inventory of how many people actually live up to your expectations. Also dishonestly is killer. If you have anything that your hiding to try and make things easier for yourself, that can do it. If it would make someone angry to know the truth about something, and they are not because you lied, you're going to feel way worse if their kindness feels undeserved than you would if you were brave enough and honest enough to take whatever reaction you would/should receive for your actions. If that is the case, it's a tough thing to come clean about things, but it is an automatic self esteem boost to come clean about who you really are, what you really think, and what mistakes you've really made and to move forward. It's a hard thing to do and few people truly understand what the point of being honest is. It's for yourself. You might lose a few friends, it happens, but the one's who stay anyway will actually make you feel good, because you'll know that they see the same thing that you see, and they think you're a decent person. Nobody is flawless. The sooner you figure that out the easier it will be to be comfortable with what you really are, and to be content with that, and it will give you a lot more room to focus on the things that you enjoy. You're just an animal with an overly complex brain. Give yourself a break and try and enjoy it while you're here. You will never have enough time to do all of the things you want to try, so forget about what you wish you we're and take your ACTUAL imperfect human butt and start living.

Answer 3

A tautology provides unnecessary information. By that I mean it provides extra information that does not further clarify an idea, statement, claim etc.

For example, "The widower man mourned." In this case, 'man' is a pointless addition.

So, on that basis, any tautology should be avoided. However, it's not unknown to use it in verse and song deliberately, for poetic licence or emphasis.

Answer 4

Many would argue that knowing what can never be so is valuable. It defines by absense. Thus contradictions are useful. A contradiction is just an inverse tautology. Therefore tautologies must be just as valuable.

Answer 5

Simply because they don't find the beauty on it. They don't want unnecessary repetition of the same idea in different words. Redundance for them is a big no no. That's why for them it's worthless. Be that as it may, i find them worthy in it's own sense.

Thanks for asking. Have a great day!

Answer 6

I don't believe they are worthless, but perhaps because they are often used flippantly in conversation (ie: non-relevant to current topic) they have outlived their popular coolness popularity?

Answer 7

tautologies are very useful particularly when you are to defeat your opponent without doing much effort.

he feels bored and after sometime he is irritated and then finally he gives it up.

this is a psychological tool also.

Answer 8

I agree with you. If they were worthless, why do we still teach them in philosophy and logic courses?

Answer 9

I find them amusing when in a good mood but very irritating when not....