Abstract

Logical determinism fails through indefiniteness. The logician may be able to ascribe a truth-value to propositions before they have ‘come true’ (or not), but he cannot ascribe a definite one. Some poetic and popular expositions of fatalism speak of a Book of Destiny. If there really is a book, all written down already, then the case is altered. For then the predictions are definite. The pre-existence of truth in the future tense is supported. However, the Book of Destiny needs some further argument to authenticate it, perhaps theological, perhaps metaphysical. But then it ceases to be logical determinism. Logical determinism depends on purely logical arguments. And these, however expressed, are patently fallacious.