Inconsistent triad
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An inconsistent triad consists of three propositions of which at most two can be true. For example:
- Alice loves me.
- If Alice loves me, she would have sent flowers.
- Alice hasn't sent flowers.
If one finds oneself believing all three propositions of an inconsistent triad, then (to be rational) one must give up or modify at least one of those beliefs. Maybe Alice doesn't love me, or maybe she wouldn't send flowers to me if she did, or maybe she actually has sent flowers.
Another form of an inconsistent triad has been argued by Epicurus as a part of the Problem of evil. The three propositions in this case are:
- Evil and suffering exist in the world.
- God is all-powerful
- God is all-loving
From this, Epicurus argues that, as the Christian God is generally assumed to be both all-powerful and all-loving, such a God cannot exist.
