Logic, Existence, and Argumentation

In this article http://steve-patterson.com/everything-is-grounded-in-logic/, Steve Patterson points out that “logic and existence are inseparable,” and that he knows “no more fundamental truth…” While I agree it is a fundamental truth, there is a more fundamental truth:

One cannot argue that one cannot argue.

This statement is the a priori of argumentation.

It cannot be denied consistently that argumentation is ultimately more fundamental than existence when it comes to the foundations of logic and justifying logic. If one denies this then they would be engaging in argumentation and would be refuting their own argument. Justification must happen in argumentation. ^[1]I discuss this in http://www.anarcho-libertarian.com/index.php/2016/06/26/argumentation-and-validity/ and Hoppe also discusses this on page 400 of the 2nd edition of The Economics and Ethics of … Continue reading

I will say, however, that the truth that logic and existence are inseparable strengthens rationalist epistemology. In a sense, it is more fundamental than the a priori of argumentation since one must exist to argue, and, in a sense, the a priori of action is also more fundamental than the a priori of argumentation since argumentation is simply a specific action.

But the a priori of argumentation is even more fundamental than the two facts in the previous sentence because (1) the whole idea of validity arises only with argumentation and (2) one must use argumentation to justify the validity of the two facts.

Additionally, rationalism is further shown as a realist philosophy with the fact that logic and existence, in other words reality, are inseparable. It can also be seen as realist when reflecting upon the fact that action, thus argumentation, is simply the cognitive movement of a physical body in space. To put it more in metaphorical terms, “Action is where the mind meets reality.”

See the short Facebook discussion I had with Steve about this post: https://www.facebook.com/TheNickSinard/posts/1246697718675117