Not meaning to sound too ignorant, but just as an honest question that started itching a couple of days ago. Is Isaac Asimov the smartest person in the world? Given that the most common assertion is that “Cecil Adams is the world’s most intelligent human being. We know this because: (1) he knows everything, and (2) he is never wrong.”, isn’t that applied to our distinguished Doctor too? I wonder if the Teeming Millions would agree with the Gentle Readers…
scodas, since this is GQ, I’ll assume you want an answer.
That little statement is a classic example of circular reasoning. You can use it to ‘prove’ anything, because it assumes as a given that which it sets out to prove. In other words, it goes in a circle. Circular reasoning is one of the most common mistakes people make in an argument. For example, ‘The Bible is inerrant, or never wrong, because it says it is, and it’s never wrong.’ is one I’ve heard (not on these boards, of course).
Of course, the statement you quoted is a joke, but it can be held up as a specific example of a common mistake, so it serves a purpose (besides making us logically literate laugh).
Not to mention that Assimov died in 1992! That means he ain’t getting any smarter. Cecil, on the other hand, just keeps learning every day.*
- Assuming he’s still alive. We haven’t been graced by his presence lately, I don’t think. But we believe he is still there.