Incorrigibility
Encyclopedia
In philosophy
, incorrigibility is a property of a philosophical proposition, which implies that it is necessarily true simply by virtue of being believed. A common example of such a proposition is René Descartes
' "cogito ergo sum
" (I think, therefore I am).
Johnathan Harrison has argued that "incorrigible" may be the wrong term, since it seems to imply (by the dictionary definition)http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Incorrigible a sense that the beliefs cannot be changed, which isn't actually true. In Harrison's view, the incorrigibility of a proposition actually implies something about the nature of believing---for example, that one must exist in order to believe---rather than the nature of the proposition itself.
For illustration, consider Descartes': I think, therefore I exist.
Stated in incorrigible form, this could be: "That I believe that I exist implies that my belief is true." Harrison argues that a belief being true is really only incidental to the matter, that really what the cogito proves is that belief implies existence. One could equally well say, "That I believe God exists implies that I exist," or "That I believe I do not exist implies that my belief is false."---and these would have the same essential meaning as the cogito.
Charles Raff draws a distinction between three types of incorrigibility:
Type-2 and type-3 incorrigibility are logical converses, and therefore logically independent. Charles Raff argues that introspection
is not type-1 incorrigible, but is in fact type-2 and type-3 incorrigible.
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, incorrigibility is a property of a philosophical proposition, which implies that it is necessarily true simply by virtue of being believed. A common example of such a proposition is René Descartes
René Descartes
René Descartes ; was a French philosopher and writer who spent most of his adult life in the Dutch Republic. He has been dubbed the 'Father of Modern Philosophy', and much subsequent Western philosophy is a response to his writings, which are studied closely to this day...
' "cogito ergo sum
Cogito ergo sum
is a philosophical Latin statement proposed by . The simple meaning of the phrase is that someone wondering whether or not they exist is, in and of itself, proof that something, an "I", exists to do the thinking — However this "I" is not the more or less permanent person we call "I"...
" (I think, therefore I am).
Johnathan Harrison has argued that "incorrigible" may be the wrong term, since it seems to imply (by the dictionary definition)http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Incorrigible a sense that the beliefs cannot be changed, which isn't actually true. In Harrison's view, the incorrigibility of a proposition actually implies something about the nature of believing---for example, that one must exist in order to believe---rather than the nature of the proposition itself.
For illustration, consider Descartes': I think, therefore I exist.
Stated in incorrigible form, this could be: "That I believe that I exist implies that my belief is true." Harrison argues that a belief being true is really only incidental to the matter, that really what the cogito proves is that belief implies existence. One could equally well say, "That I believe God exists implies that I exist," or "That I believe I do not exist implies that my belief is false."---and these would have the same essential meaning as the cogito.
Charles Raff draws a distinction between three types of incorrigibility:
- Type-1: It is logically necessary that, when the statement is sincerely made, it is true.
- Type-2: It is necessary that when the statement is believed to be true, it is true.
- Type-3: It is necessary that when the statement is true, it is believed to be true.
Type-2 and type-3 incorrigibility are logical converses, and therefore logically independent. Charles Raff argues that introspection
Introspection
Introspection is the self-observation and reporting of conscious inner thoughts, desires and sensations. It is a conscious and purposive process relying on thinking, reasoning, and examining one's own thoughts, feelings, and, in more spiritual cases, one's soul...
is not type-1 incorrigible, but is in fact type-2 and type-3 incorrigible.