On the methodology of paraconsistent logic

Heinrich Wansing

Sergei P. Odintsov

pp. 175-204

in: Holger Andreas, Peter Verdée (eds), Logical studies of paraconsistent reasoning in science and mathematics, Berlin, Springer, 2016

Abstract

The present note contains a critical discussion of the methodology of paraconsistent logic in general and "the central optimisation problem of paraconsistent logics" in particular. It is argued that there exist several reasons not to consider classical logic as the reference logic for developing systems of paraconsistent logic, and it is suggested to weaken a certain maximality condition that may be seen as essential for "optimisation", which is a methodology in the tradition of Newton da Costa. It is argued that the guiding motivation for the development of paraconsistent logics should be neither epistemological nor ontological, but informational. Moreover, it is pointed out that there are other notions of maximality and other methodologies. A methodology due to Graham Priest and Richard Routley and another methodology that focuses on a minimal shrinkage of expressiveness relative to a given reference logic are considered in some detail.

Cited authors

Routley Richard

Priest Graham