Introduction

Abstract

The idea of reflexivity has long been the subject of discussion in philosophy. The origins of the term can be found in the ‘Liar’s paradox’, a puzzle believed to have come from Eubulides, a pupil of Euclides in around the sixth century BC. Consider the sentence: ‘This statement is false’. If the statement is false, then whoever said it was telling the truth. But if it is true, then it must be false because the speaker said it was. Therefore if it is true it is false, and if it is false it is true. The self-referential nature of the statement has even led some to question the absolute validity of classical logic.¹

‘I’ve got this scientist well-trained,’ said one laboratory rat to the other. ‘Every time I press the button, he gives me a peanut.’