Contingency (philosophy) facts for kids

Contingency is a word used in philosophy and logic to describe ideas or statements that are not always true and not always false. Think of it like this: a contingent statement is true sometimes, but not always. It depends on the situation.

For example, the statement "It is raining outside" is contingent. It might be true right now, but it won't be true all the time. It depends on the weather!

What are Contingent Ideas?

Ideas or statements that are contingent are different from other types of statements. Their truth depends on other facts or conditions.

Here are some other types of statements:

• Tautologies: These are statements that are always true, no matter what.
  • Example: "The sky is blue or the sky is not blue." This is always true, even if the sky is green!
• Contradictions: These are statements that are always false, no matter what.
  • Example: "It is raining and it is not raining." This can never be true at the same time.
• Possible statements: These are statements that are true or could be true under certain conditions.
  • Example: "x + y = 4." This can be true if x is 2 and y is 2, but false if x is 1 and y is 1.
  • Another example: "There are only three planets." This might be true in a different, imaginary world.

Many philosophers have thought about contingency. For example, Baruch Spinoza, a philosopher from the 1600s, said that we call something contingent when we don't know if it's true or false, or if we're not sure if it exists because we don't know all the reasons behind it.

Contingency in Debates and Discussions

Contingency is very important when people talk about rhetoric. Rhetoric is the art of speaking or writing effectively, especially to persuade others.

Why Contingency Matters in Arguments

Ancient Greek philosophers like Aristotle believed that rhetoric is used when we discuss things that are not certain. We don't debate things that are always true or always impossible.

For instance, people don't usually debate whether the sun will rise tomorrow (that's certain). They also don't debate whether humans can fly without machines (that's impossible). Instead, they debate things that could go different ways.

Aristotle thought that the many possible outcomes of a situation create the need for rhetoric. When there are different choices and different results, people need to discuss and persuade each other. This idea was different from Plato's view, who thought rhetoric was mostly about tricking people.

What is "Necessary" or "Impossible"?

What seems "necessary" (must happen) or "impossible" (can't happen) can change over time.

For example, in the past, many people in the United States thought that ending slavery was impossible. They also thought it was impossible for women to vote. But over time, these things changed. Slavery was abolished, and women gained the right to vote.

This shows that what is considered "necessary" or "impossible" depends on the time and how people see things. When people make decisions, they choose one path, and this often leads to new, unexpected results. Because of these new results, people have to keep discussing and making new choices.

How We Understand Truth in Debates

A scholar named Robert L. Scott said that while rhetoric deals with contingent and relative ideas, it also helps us create knowledge. This means that through language and discussion, people decide what is true and what can't be questioned.

Another scholar, Lloyd Bitzer, had some ideas about rhetoric and contingency:

• Rhetoric is a way to explore and talk about things that are contingent (not certain).
• This exploration doesn't give us absolute truth, but rather opinions.
• The best way to work with these ideas is through careful discussion and good judgment.
• These discussions and decisions are focused on the audience.
• Talking with the audience is limited by time.

These ideas help us understand how important it is to discuss and debate things that are not set in stone.

See also

In Spanish: Contingencia para niños