Horror Contradictionis
Johan van Benthem

Abstract:
Contradiction between sharp propositions is a major engine of progress
in logic, both in reasoning and in related tasks. And yet, in
communicative practice, we often try to avoid conflict, and logic also
has several strategies for 'defusing' contradictions. This paper
discusses some of these, including changes of arity for predicates,
relativization of domains, and retreat to weaker statements about
agents' beliefs. We note a few folklore facts about the reach of these
methods, and then relate the balance between accepting and defusing
contradictions to issues in belief revision and game theory. In doing
so, we place 'relativism' in a setting of information dynamics: an
optimal take on a contradiction depends on its success in facilitating
subsequent communication.