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If pressed to supplement Tweedledee's ostensive definition…

“If pressed to supplement Tweedledee's ostensive definition of logic with a discursive definition of the same subject, I would say that logic is the systematic study of the logical truths. Pressed further, I would say that a sentence is logically true if all sentences with its grammatical structure…” quote by Willard Van Orman Quine
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“If pressed to supplement Tweedledee's ostensive definition of logic with a discursive definition of the same subject, I would say that logic is the systematic study of the logical truths. Pressed further, I would say that a sentence is logically true if all sentences with its grammatical structure are true. Pressed further still, I would say to read this book.”

Willard Van Orman Quine

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Logic studies truths that hold across all sentences sharing the same grammatical form, defining logical truth systematically.

In simple terms: Logic is about universal truth patterns in language.

Key Takeaway

Identify structural truth in arguments.

Themes

logic language truth philosophy methodology

Mood

inquisitive critical

Type

philosophical educational

When to use this quote

  • academic research
  • critical thinking
  • argument mapping
  • AI reasoning

Key Concepts

formal logic semantic theory syntactic analysis

Questions to Reflect On

  • What counts as a logical truth?
  • How does structure affect meaning?
A Different Perspective

Complex definitions can become circular.

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