Self-refuting idea
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* ''"Nothing you find on a wiki is true." '' | * ''"Nothing you find on a wiki is true." '' | ||
:: This proposition proves too much by invalidating itself, because if true the statement is false, since it appears on a wiki. | :: This proposition proves too much by invalidating itself, because if true the statement is false, since it appears on a wiki. | ||
| − | * "Human beliefs stem from wish fulfillment not evaluation of evidence." | + | * ''"Human beliefs stem from wish fulfillment not evaluation of evidence." '' |
:: This proposition proves too much by discrediting itself, as it is a human belief, and therefore must be based on wish-fulfillment not evidence. | :: This proposition proves too much by discrediting itself, as it is a human belief, and therefore must be based on wish-fulfillment not evidence. | ||
* ''"Statements which are not empirically testable are meaningless." '' | * ''"Statements which are not empirically testable are meaningless." '' | ||
Revision as of 13:27, 27 July 2011
Proving too much[1] is the logical fallacy of drawing a conclusion that is too broad, therefore conflicting with other propositions that are either known to be true or a logical prerequisite to the proposition itself. Generally, this arises when someone intentionally tries to sound intelligent but their vagueness betrays their lack of knowledge or expertise.
It can be summed up in the medieval adage, quod nimis probat, nihil probat: "what proves too much, proves nothing".
Some examples
- "Nothing can be known for certain."
- This proposition (otherwise known as Pyrrhonism) proves too much by casting doubts about itself, because the truth about the statement itself cannot be known for certain.
- "Nothing you find on a wiki is true."
- This proposition proves too much by invalidating itself, because if true the statement is false, since it appears on a wiki.
- "Human beliefs stem from wish fulfillment not evaluation of evidence."
- This proposition proves too much by discrediting itself, as it is a human belief, and therefore must be based on wish-fulfillment not evidence.
- "Statements which are not empirically testable are meaningless."
- This proposition (otherwise known as logical positivism), proves too much by invalidating itself, because the statement itself is not empirically testable, and is therefore meaningless by its own criterion.
- "Nothing outside the Bible is trustworthy."
- This proposition proves too much by invalidating itself, because the proposition itself appears outside of the Bible.
- "There is no objective reality."
- This proposition proves too much by invalidating itself, because the statement tacitly makes an assertion about the objective world (i.e. if you believe there is an objective reality, you're making an objectively false statement).
- While also an escape hatch, putting a supernatural entity so far "outside" the universe that it cannot be detected must, by a logical extension, mean that the supernatural entity cannot even affect the universe (any real effect inside reality can be detected). So if a god can't be detected in the material universe it also can't cause miracles, answer prayers or interfere in any events.