Toute definition implique un axiome, puisqu'elle affirme l'existence de l'objet defini. La definition ne sera donc justifiee, au point de vue purement logique, que quand on aura demontre qu'elle n'entraine pas de contradiction, ni dans les termes, ni avec les verites anterieurement admises.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Poincare states that every definition implies an axiom and must be proven free of contradiction.
- In plain terms
- A definition implies existence and must be shown to have no contradictions.
- What can you take from it?
- Definitions must be logically consistent to be justified.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What makes a definition valid?
- Can all concepts be defined without contradiction?
Another view
Some definitions in practice rely on intuition rather than strict logical proof.
More from Henri Poincare
La logique nous apprend que sur tel ou tel chemin nous sommes surs de ne pas rencontrer d'obstacle; elle ne nous dit pas quel est celui qui mene au but. Pour c…
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Permalink to quote #20 C'est par la logique qu'on demontre, c'est par l'intuition qu'on invente.
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