Central and East European
Society for Phenomenology

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235706

Prior's defence of Hintikka's theorem

a discussion of prior's "the logic of obligation and the obligations of the logician"

Peter Øhrstrøm Jörg ZellerUlrik Sandborg-Petersen

pp. 449-454

Abstract

In his paper, The logic of obligation and the obligations of the logician, A.N. Prior considers Hintikka’s theorem, according to which a statement cannot be both impossible and permissible. This theorem has been seen as problematic for the very idea of a logic of obligation. However, Prior rejects the view that the logic of obligation cannot be formalised. He sees this resistance against such a view as an important part of what could be called the obligation of the logician. Prior argues that Hintikka’s theorem should not be seen as something paradoxical. On the contrary, it should be seen as a fully acceptable consequence of a basic and reasonable assumption in deontic logic, namely Hintikka’s rule.

Publication details

Published in:

Øhrstrøm Peter, Hasle Per F. V., Sandborg-Petersen Ulrik (2012) From a logical angle. Synthese 188 (3).

Pages: 449-454

DOI: 10.1007/s11229-011-9936-2

Full citation:

Øhrstrøm Peter, Zeller Jörg, Sandborg-Petersen Ulrik (2012) „Prior's defence of Hintikka's theorem: a discussion of prior's "the logic of obligation and the obligations of the logician"“. Synthese 188 (3), 449–454.