Law of Identity
Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30
CORE DEFINITION
A=A: In the same process of thinking, every concept and judgment must remain identical. It is the cornerstone of clarity in thinking, preventing the substitution of concepts and the confusion of topics, and is the basic guarantee for the correctness of logical reasoning.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
The cornerstone of clarity in thinking. It prevents the substitution of concepts and the confusion of topics, and is the basic guarantee for the correctness of logical reasoning.
Anchor fast decisions
The law of identity is one of the three fundamental laws of formal logic (alongside the law of non-contradiction and the law of excluded middle). It requires that in the same discussion, the intension and extension of concepts and the meaning of propositions remain fixed and do not drift arbitrarily. Its function is to constrain 'concept drift'—once the meaning of a word is surreptitiously changed, the argument loses its common ground, appearing valid but actually invalid.
MINIMUM ACTION
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_identityverified
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