Item 63 - Letter from W. E. Johnson to Henry Sidgwick

2 docs

Refers to an enclosed solution of the 'puzzle of hypotheticals' [included], which he believes to be 'perfectly satisfactory'. Claims to show that 'the two hypotheticals, alleged to be contradictory, are not in reality incompatible with one another.' Use such propositions as "If X is Y, H is K" and IF X is Y, H is not K" and the method of Reductio ad absurdum to illustrate his theory. Concludes by expressing the hope that he has succeeded in making his position clear to Sidgwick. Letter is accompanied by the solution purporting to demonstrate the fallacy regarding the above two propositions.