Logician: A cat has four paws. Old Gentleman: My dog had four paws. Logician: Then it's a cat. Old Gentleman: So my dog is a cat? Logician: And the contrary is also true.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A dialogue showing a logical fallacy where a shared trait implies identical categorization.
- In plain terms
- Two animals have four paws so the logician says one must be the other.
- What can you take from it?
- Shared traits do not prove identity.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What assumptions underlie your reasoning?
Another view
Formal logic can miss real-world nuances.
More from Eugene Ionesco
Oh words, what crimes are committed in your name!
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Permalink to quote #6 I didn't mean you were stupid. It's just that you're not logical, which isn't the same thing at all.
Permalink to quote #3
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