The Fool wrote: > > > From: William T Goodall <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > > > There are facts and there are opinions. Facts can be tautological facts > > (like 2+2=4) or empirical facts (the Titanic sank). > > 2+2=4 is not a tautology, it is based on an axiom, a 'given'. A > tautology is circular reasoning, self referential.
The OED definition of "tautology" lists f. Mod. Logic. A compound proposition which is unconditionally true for all the truth-possibilities of its elementary propositions and by virtue of its logical form. I think that 2+2=4 falls under that. Julia _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l