Equivocation/Examples
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Examples of Equivocation
Smullyan's Equivocation
- Some cars rattle.
- My car is some car.
- Therefore, my car rattles.
Equivocation of Nothing
The classic often-cited argument is:
- Candlelight is brighter than nothing.
- Nothing is brighter than the light from the sun.
- Therefore, candlelight is brighter than the light from the sun.
This version is given in 1982: P.M. Cohn: Algebra Volume 1 (2nd ed.):
- Any soap is better than no soap.
- No soap is better than Wonder-Bubble.
- Therefore, any soap is better than Wonder-Bubble.
This version is given in 2008: David Joyner: Adventures in Group Theory (2nd ed.):
- Time waits for no man.
- No man is an island.
- Therefore, time waits for an island.