Paradox (Central Problems of Philosophy)

Paradoxes are more than just intellectual puzzles - they raise substantive philosophical issues and offer the promise of increased philosophical knowledge. In this introduction to paradox and paradoxes, Doris Olin shows how seductive paradoxes can be, why they confuse and confound, and why they continue to fascinate. Olin examines the nature of paradox, outlining a rigorous definition and providing a clear and incisive statement of what does and does not count as a resolution of a paradox. The view that a statement can be both true and false, that contradictions can be true, is seen to provide a challenge to the account of paradox resolution, and is explored. With this framework in place, the book then turns to an in-depth treatment of the Prediction Paradox, versions of the Preface/Fallibility Paradox, the Lottery Paradox, Newcomb's Problem, the Prisoner's Dilemma and the Sorites Paradox. Each of these paradoxes is shown to have considerable philosophical punch. Olin unpacks the central arguments in a clear and systematic fashion, offers original analyses and solutions, and exposes further unsettling implications for some of our most deep-seated principles and convictions. Cover......Page 1 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 1. The nature of paradox......Page 12 2. Paradox and contradiction......Page 32 3. Believing in surprises: the prediction paradox......Page 48 4. The preface paradox, fallibility and probability......Page 72 5. The lottery paradox......Page 90 6. Newcomb's problem......Page 116 7. The prisoner's dilemma......Page 148 8. The sorites paradox......Page 178 Appendix......Page 202 Notes......Page 210 Bibliography......Page 224 Index......Page 230 Paradoxes are more than just intellectual puzzles - they raise substantive philosophical issues and offer the promise of increased philosophical knowledge. This title offers an introduction to paradox and paradoxes, showing how seductive paradoxes can be, why they confuse and confound, and why they continue to fascinate.