From Wos
Weblog:
Argument
Z
1. If the conclusion of argument
Z is true, then argument Z isn’t sound.
2. If the conclusion of argument
Z is not true, then argument Z isn’t sound.
Therefore: Argument Z isn’t
sound.
Is argument Z sound? (If not,
which premise is false?)
There is a paradox here, but maybe this
question isnt the best way to get at it. After all, the paradox can be
tightened up a little. Premise 2 is an analytic truth, so it can be dropped
from the argument. Hence the following should be just as paradoxical.
Argument
Z´
1. If the conclusion of argument
Z´ is true, then argument Z´ isn’t sound.
Therefore: Argument Z isn’t
sound.
But now its clear what the untrue premise
must be, its premise 1. So I think premise 1 is also untrue in argument Z.
That may be paradoxical, but at least weve located
the paradox.