Logic and Language

By

Anthony J. Fejfar, B.A., J.D., Esq., Coif

©Copyright 2010 by Anthony J. Fejfar

Aristotelian Logic tells us that an idea must be True or False, and, it cannot be

both True and False at the same time. This is the basis for the use of Truth Tables.

Thus, we can see that it is logically false to have both A and -A (not A) at the same

time. This is confirmed by Concrete Logic. Therefore, a person cannot have Apple (A)

and no Apple (not A) in the same hand, at the same time. Either there is an Apple in your

hand, or there is not. There is no middle ground. This is seen in the following Truth

Table:

T F

Situation 1 A -A

Situation 2 -A A

Also, we can analyze Analogical Logic to see what it is that makes this rather

interesting type of logic work. Analogical Logic proves that A is like B, not that A is,

or is not B. Consider the following example:

Banana is to Orange as Apple is to Grapefruit

Now we have to see how it is that there foregoing statements are analogically

valid. With analysis, it is apparent that the interpretative rule is the following:

Fruit is to citrus fruit as Fruit is to Citrus Fruit

Therefore, we can also say that Fruit is like Fruit (Apple as fruit is like Banana as fruit),

and Citrus Fruit (Orange) is like Citrus Fruit (Grapefruit).