"What the Tortoise Said to Achilles" (Lewis Carroll)

"What the Tortoise Said to Achilles" is a philosophical dialogue by Lewis Carroll that explores how logical reasoning works. Achilles, a swift runner, presents a clear argument, but the Tortoise challenges him, asking how the argument's conclusions follow from its premises. The Tortoise insists that logical steps need to be justified repeatedly, creating an infinite regress. This conversation highlights issues about the nature of inference and how assumptions are validated in logic. Ultimately, it reveals that logical reasoning depends on accepted principles, and without them, the process can become endlessly recursive, emphasizing the importance of foundational assumptions in logical thought.