Question

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Is it logically possible for pigs to fly?

I say yes, and this is my reasoning.

If something is logically impossible, then it violates a law of logic. Example - square circle, or a married bachelor - both would violate the law of non-contradiction.

If a statement / claim does not violate any laws of logic, then it is a logical possibility.

So, it is logically possible for pigs to fly, since no laws of logic are violated.

Of course it is physically impossible and empirically impossible for pigs to fly, for obvious reasons. 

asked on Saturday, Sep 18, 2021 09:21:49 AM by

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Answers

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Bo Bennett, PhD
3

Seems like a nonsensical question. It is not a matter of logic. To me, that is like asking the temperature of the number six. Or if it is possible for the number six to be 100 degrees F.

answered on Saturday, Sep 18, 2021 10:02:03 AM by Bo Bennett, PhD

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account no longer exists writes:

Hello Bo,

yes it is a nonsensical question if it's the first thing you consider in an opening post.

Questions and statements similar to these are often found in introductory philosophy books.

When explaining the difference between "empirically possible/impossible" and "logically possible/impossible", we often see examples like "is it possible for a man to lift a 3 ton weight?"

The default thinking here is that it is empirically possible, and of course lifting a 3 ton weight IS empirically impossible, but it is still logically possible (eg humans could eventually evolve into extremely physically powerful mammals).

This, and the flying pigs are fairly brute examples, and are often dismissed as nonsensical. However, more focussed reasoning is required if you use the example "is it possible to exist outside of space and time?", or "is omnipotence possible?" Are these even logically possible?

(some argue that the latter is not, because it's similar to asking what the highest number is).

posted on Sunday, Sep 19, 2021 04:43:31 PM
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Bo Bennett, PhD writes:
[To Jim]

If you define "logically possible" as something that does not violate the laws of logic, then you have your answer. If you require something to be "logical" only if it pertains to reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles of validity, then I don't see how pigs flying could be logical or logically possible. Not to say it is logically impossible, just back to the idea of the question itself being nonsensical. (Trying to give a deeper though out answer than a standard introductory philosophy book.)

[ login to reply ] posted on Sunday, Sep 19, 2021 07:19:23 PM
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account no longer exists writes:
[To Bo Bennett, PhD]

"If you require something to be "logical" only if it pertains to reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles of validity, then I don't see how pigs flying could be logical or logically possible."

I understand what you are saying, but I think the whole point is this - "logical", "logically possible", "logically impossible" are all "binary" classifications.

A thing, instance, statement involving any of these is either one or the other - there's no middle ground. You could laugh at some of the "nonsensical" examples in a philosophy primer, eg "Can a tall man be not tall?", but it's a perfect demonstration of a logical impossibility.

Is it possible for a pig to fly? Empirically no, but logically, yes, no matter how ridiculous it sounds.

[ login to reply ] posted on Saturday, Sep 25, 2021 05:49:14 PM
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TrappedPrior (RotE)
2

Yes, logical possibility is a matter of whether a proposition is consistent with the laws of logic, such as the Principle of Noncontradiction. So as long as there are no false premises, you could say the proposition is 'logically' possible.

However, a valid argument isn't necessarily a sound one, as you demonstrate. The premises of the argument have to be true as well. So this is not a matter of logic, but rather empirical evidence.

answered on Saturday, Sep 18, 2021 09:51:13 AM by TrappedPrior (RotE)

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