# Isn’t it contradictory to believe there are no absolutes?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isn-t-it-contradictory-to-believe-there-are-no-absolutes/34805>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [September 27, 2000, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isn-t-it-contradictory-to-believe-there-are-no-absolutes/34805 "2000-09-27T20:59:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2000, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isn-t-it-contradictory-to-believe-there-are-no-absolutes/34805/21 "2000-09-28T19:36:33Z")

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Absolutely not.

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**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2000, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isn-t-it-contradictory-to-believe-there-are-no-absolutes/34805/22 "2000-09-28T21:45:49Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Keeve \*  
> \*\*

No, I believe that you are misinterpreting it; you restated the portion prior to the comma, but ignored the portion following the comma.\*\*  
[/quote]

The portion following the comma is redundant. Saying “all rules have exceptions” is logically the same as “all rules have exceptions, including rule A”, even where A is that rule.

> [@](#):
>
> **The portion prior to the comma (_There’s an exception to every rule_) means that there are no absolutes. The portion following the comma (_including this one_) means that the statement about “no absolutes” does have exceptions.**

I think you are confusing the statement with a deduction from that statement.

> [@](#):
>
> **In other words: The vast majority of rules do have exceptions, but there are a small number of rules which do _not_ have exceptions.**

That certainly is in other words, because it is not logically the same as your previous statement. “vast majority” does not equal “every”

> [@](#):
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> \*\*I challenge you all to show any internal contradiction in that statement. \*\*

Your second statement is fine.  
Your original statement is a contradiction.

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**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isn-t-it-contradictory-to-believe-there-are-no-absolutes/34805/23 "2000-09-29T13:43:26Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by BlackKnight \*  
> **I think you are confusing the statement with a deduction from that statement.**

You win. Thanks. Good fight.

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**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isn-t-it-contradictory-to-believe-there-are-no-absolutes/34805/24 "2000-09-29T16:27:57Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Keeve \*  
> \*\*You win. Thanks. Good fight. \*\*

Woohoo! I am so smart! I am so smart! S-M-R-T! I mean- S-M-A-R-T! 🙂

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