Transcendental arguments based on question-answer contradictions

Abstract

In this chapter I point out that, in spite of the fact that most transcendental arguments are based on classical logic, a careful analysis of the concept of a question-answer based contradiction (QA contradiction) can have far-reaching repercussions on our understanding of the transcendental argument. In particular, I offer an elaborate basis for taking seriously transcendental arguments based on QA contradictions. Since a QA contradiction cannot be understood properly in terms of classical logic, I provide an alternative basis for an important and unique type of transcendental arguments. Some norms and conditions for conversation are then explicitly shown to be the transcendental conditions of human conversation relative to asking questions and receiving answers. This chapter thus demonstrates that such transcendental arguments are not based on classical logic and, therefore, can function as alternative transcendental arguments.