Is there anthropological evidence that logic is culturally relative?: Remarks on Bloor, Jennings, and Evans-Pritchard

British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 45 (2):749-760 (1994)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Logical relativism is the view that a logical proposition is known just in case it is collectively endorsed in some culture. This striking and controversial view is defended by David Bloor and Richard C. Jennings. They cite in its support distinctive reasoning practices among the Azande as described by E. E. Evans-Pitchard. Jennings has challenged my critique of Bloor's logical relativism, claiming that my analysis is based on misunderstandings of Bloor and Evans-Pritchard. I argue that Jennings' clarifications of Bloor do nothing to support the thesis of logical relativism, and that a direct examination of Evans-Pritchard's evidence suggests that the Azande reason just as we do.

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 91,386

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Don't look but think: Imaginary scenarios in Wittgenstein's later philosophy.David R. Cerbone - 1994 - Inquiry: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy 37 (2):159 – 183.
Jennings and zande logic: A note.Lansana Keita - 1993 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 44 (1):151-156.
Alternative mathematics and the strong programme: Reply to Triplett.Richard C. Jennings - 1988 - Inquiry: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy 31 (1):93 – 101.
Zande logic and western logic.Richard C. Jennings - 1989 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 40 (2):275-285.
Relativism and the Sociology of Mathematics: Remarks on Bloor, Flew, and Frege.Timm Triplett - 1986 - Inquiry: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy 29 (1-4):439-450.
Understanding a Primitive Society.Berel Dov Lerner - 1995 - Religious Studies 31 (3):303-309.
The social construction of social constructionism.Peter Slezak - 1994 - Inquiry: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy 37 (2):139 – 157.
A Second Look at David Bloor’s Knowledge and Social Imagery.Peter Slezak - 1994 - Philosophy of the Social Sciences 24 (3):336-361.
Azande logic versus western logic?Timm Triplett - 1988 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 39 (3):361-366.

Analytics

Added to PP
2009-01-28

Downloads
51 (#305,341)

6 months
17 (#141,290)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Timm Triplett
University of New Hampshire, Durham

References found in this work

Zande logic and western logic.Richard C. Jennings - 1989 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 40 (2):275-285.
Azande logic versus western logic?Timm Triplett - 1988 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 39 (3):361-366.
The sociology of knowledge.Werner Stark - 1958 - London,: Routledge and Kegan Paul.

Add more references