Sull’evidenza del principio. Regime del senso, elenchos e argomento trascendentale

Abstract

This paper develops a comparison between Karl-Otto Apel's foundational perspective and Aristotle's refutation strategy. The reflection will begin with an interpretation of some motifs in Gamma's Metaphysics, connecting the question of the validity of the principle of non-contradiction with the question of linguistic meaning. It will then analyze the similarity with Apel's performative self-contradiction. Apel obviously begins with an interest in communicative reasoning for the foundation of discourse ethics. In fact, there are no ontological considerations, as in the Aristotelian tradition. The aim, however, is similar to Gamma's theses on the principle. He maintains that argumentation is indispensable for any claim to validity.