[lit-ideas] Re: If I'm not mistaken
- From: Jlsperanza@xxxxxxx
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:13:35 EDT
I haven't googled this yet, but I would like to say:
If I'm not mistaken, I'm mistaken.
Call that Speranza's paradox.
Since, "If I'm not mistaken" is a Griceian otiosity -- an otiosity by
Griceian standards, not one that Grice commits, "if I AM mitaken" is rather a
contradictory hedge. It turns everything into something that BREAKS the
conversational maxims. "If I'm mistaken", too, but in subtler ways -- or not.
-----
And so on.
Note that it's only when _I_ is used (as in Epemenidides' Liar paradox).
Thus, "If Geary is not mistaken, p" (cfr. "unless Geary is mistaken, p")
triggers different implicatures frrom those that "if _I_ am not mistaken"
does (cfr. "It is raining, but I don't believe it" and 'It is raining but
Geary does not believe it" -- Moore paradox).
Goedel may be thrown in into the bargain.
Cheers,
Speranza
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