3. LAW OF CONTRADICTION.
The law of contradiction underlies all negative propositions. It is the mission of this law to tear down or to be destructive in nature; while the law of identity builds up or is constructive in nature.
The law of contradiction may be stated in this way: It is impossible for the same thing to be and not to be at the same time and in the same place. Or better, itis impossible for the same thing to be itself and its contradictory at the same time. Bringing out a further aspect, no thing can have and not have the same attributes at the same time.
The little word not bisects the universe. All the people in the world are either honest or not honest, virtuous or not virtuous. These are contradictory statements and what is comprehended by the one cannot be comprehended by the other at the same time, any more than a man can shake his head and nod his head at the same time.
If we assert the identity between two notions then we cannot in the same breath deny their identity.
ILLUSTRATIONS:
(1) A red flower cannot be a red flower and not a red flower at the same time.
(2) No man can be guilty and not guilty at the same time.
(3) A boy cannot be working and not working at the same time.
If I assert that the flower is red, then I cannot affirm in the same breath that the flower is not red.