Reflections on methodology belongs to a serious of propaedeutics in the context of the research dissertation Principles of Liberty by Tabea Hirzel (2015). Reflections on methodology VI clear some preliminary questions in relation to Hoppean universalism and apriorism.

1. Reflections on Methodology VI
Hoppean universalism
Doctoral Candidate: Tabea Hirzel
Program: Doctorate of Diplomacy/ Political Economy
University: SMC University, Zug, Switzerland
Date: 12.30.2011
© Tabea Hirzel 1

2. Praxeology
© Tabea Hirzel 2

3. Propositions and truth (Aristotle)
Propositions Under any (all)
valuations
Logic, propositional
logic, Boolean
algebra; modal logic
Tautological Necessarily true p;⊤; T; 1
Contradictions Necessarily untrue ⌐p;⊥; F; 0
Possible Could have been true ⌐□⌐; ◊
Contingent Neither true nor untrue ⌐ (p ᴧ ⌐p)
© Tabea Hirzel 3

4. Logical categories
Problems
Actuality
Reality
Certainity
Totality
Arguments
Apodictic-epideictic
Formatted-unformatted
Implicit-explicit
Syllogism
Cathegorical
Hypothetical
Disjunctive
Dilemma
Propositions
Tautological
Contradictions
Possible
Contingent
Jugments
Apodeictic
Assertoric
Dialetheic
Problematic
© Tabea Hirzel 4

5. Dialetheism & Trivialism
Trivialism in symbolic logic; Read as "given
any proposition, it is a true proposition."
In classical logic, trivialism is in direct violation of Aristotle's law of
noncontradiction.
Opposed to scepticism and Descarte’s Method?
© Tabea Hirzel 5

6. Universe
• Judgment:
Dialetheism
• Category: Being
• Truth: trivial
Subjectivity
• Judgment:
Scepticism
• Category: noetic-
tension
• Truth: meaningful
World
• Judgmente:
Assertoric
• Category:
Existence
• Truth: empty
Agnosticism (cannot be known)
Denialism (reject the known)
© Tabea Hirzel 6

7. Judgment
(Certainity)
InferenceActualityReality
Universe
(Totality/
Certainity)
Triviality
Subject
Noetic-
tension
(liberty)
Doubt
Self-
affirmation
Self-
devotion
World-
affirmation
Idealisation
Object Equilibrium Laws Causation
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8. Two forms of truth
• Theoretical: In a world without subjects
mathematical certainity
• Real: In a world with subjects meaningful
liberty (infinit actuality)
 There is only tautological (internally
consistent) or probabilistic proof for an
objective world; no objective proof for a
logical world of objects!
© Tabea Hirzel 8

9. Apodicticity (Aristotle)
• Apodeictic judgment can only be made
within a law-based system
• They can say nothing about the
assignation of meaning
• They are irrelevant for the subjective world
© Tabea Hirzel 9

10. Science or Pseudoscience?
• The difference is the use of logic in
science (including probilistic logic).
• Also pseudoscience can be systematic
(e.g. Astrology).
© Tabea Hirzel 10

11. How to test the (unlogical)
subjectivity?
• Rationality vs. Reason
• By making meaningful dialetheistic claims (right claims): «I am embodied (actual)
mind (infinity)» = I exist
• This is a threat to the other and therefore meaninful
• The other can reject or accept this claim: (a) through ignoration; (b) through a
counterstatement
• (b) is a performative contradiction
 it performatively affirms the existence of the «I» and
 It logically affirms the existence of the «I» through the argumentum e contrario
 Rights are constituted through the reply
1. Personal identity is constituted throught a reply to the triviality of the universe
(ontologically, logically and ethically)
2. Society is constituted throught an ethical (consistent) reply to Otherness
3. Rigths in society are constituted through mutual recognition
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12. Exploring the «reply»
• Deceased and unborn persons are fictional, they cannot
reply
• In direct conversation a reply from fellow humans can be
achieved
• Research is a tool to make a claim to contemporaries
(third persons)
• Certainity is subjective (i.e. the reader has certainity on
his/her reply)
• Possibly the «performative contradiction» remains visible
in text?
© Tabea Hirzel 12

13. The persons
• Not a (methodological) problem of plurality
but of reality.
• Android vs. Human («I Robot»)
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