Skip to content
Carmelics
TopicsThinkersChangesContributorsLoading account…

    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

    Navigate

    • Topics
    • Search
    • Recent Changes
    • Contribute
    • How It Works
    • Glossary
    • Thinkers
    • Contributors
    • About
    • Statistics
    • Terms
    • Privacy

    Database

    Statements
    —
    Perspectives
    —
    Topics
    —

    Press ? for keyboard shortcuts

    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Protagoras' view that all beliefs are true entails a cont... — Carmelics
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Home/Skepticism
    HistoryEditSee Inverse

    Protagoras' view that all beliefs are true entails a contradiction

    SkepticismTruth & Knowledge
    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    2 reasons for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    2 perspectives
    Reason for 1 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Protagoras' doctrine entails that the belief 'not all beliefs are true' is itself true, since many people sincerely hold it.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If 'not all beliefs are true' is true, then Protagoras' doctrine that all beliefs are true is false.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.A doctrine refuted by its own application to itself is self-contradictory — this is Plato's peritrope argument in Theaetetus 171a.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reason for 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.For a belief to be true in any meaningful sense, it must be possible for a contrary belief to be false, as Davidson's truth-conditional semantics requires.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Protagoras' doctrine eliminates the contrast class of false beliefs, rendering 'true' semantically vacuous and stripping the doctrine of any assertoric content.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.A doctrine that is semantically vacuous cannot coherently assert anything, including its own truth — making it self-undermining.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.If all beliefs are true, then all beliefs about which beliefs are beneficial must also be true
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Some beliefs about which beliefs are beneficial contradict other beliefs about which beliefs are beneficial
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Contradictory beliefs cannot both be true
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Sign in or register to share your perspective on this statement.

    Next step

    Based on where you are in your exploration

    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.

    Topics

    SkepticismTruth & Knowledge

    Related

    A doctrine refuted by its own application to itself is self-contradictory — this...A doctrine that is semantically vacuous cannot coherently assert anything, inclu...Contradictory beliefs cannot both be trueFor a belief to be true in any meaningful sense, it must be possible for a contr...
    +5 moreShow less
    If 'not all beliefs are true' is true, then Protagoras' doctrine that all belief...If all beliefs are true, then all beliefs about which beliefs are beneficial mus...Protagoras' doctrine eliminates the contrast class of false beliefs, rendering '...Protagoras' doctrine entails that the belief 'not all beliefs are true' is itsel...Some beliefs about which beliefs are beneficial contradict other beliefs about w...

    Similar

    Protagoras holds that all beliefs are true87%If the belief that 'Not all beliefs are true' is true, then by disquot...86%Agents with beliefs are instead required only to be consistent (unable...86%If all beliefs are true, then the belief that 'Not all beliefs are tru...85%

    Source

    AI-extracted1/3 agreementValid
    SEP: plato-theaetetus
    View source passageHide passage
    A difficulty for Protagoras’ position here is that, if all beliefs are true, then all beliefs about which beliefs are beneficial must be true. But surely, some beliefs about which beliefs are beneficial contradict other beliefs about which beliefs are beneficial; especially if some people are better than others at bringing about beneficial beliefs. (For example, no doubt Plato’s and Protagoras’ beliefs conflict at this point.) This means that Protagoras’ view entails a contradiction of the same
    Extraction notes

    Validity: Extracted via Max plan + API grounding/validity checks

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    3 (2 for, 1 against)
    Edits
    1 edit