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Conditional Proof

The document discusses conditional proof, which is a rule for proving that arguments with conditional conclusions are valid. It explains two principles: (1) exportation, which allows rewriting a conditional statement as another logically equivalent conditional statement, and (2) correspondence, where a valid argument corresponds to a tautologous conditional statement. Conditional proof works by assuming the antecedent of the conditional conclusion as an additional premise and deducing the consequent, proving the associated conditional statement is a tautology. Several examples of symbolizing arguments and using conditional proof are provided.

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60 views13 pages

Conditional Proof

The document discusses conditional proof, which is a rule for proving that arguments with conditional conclusions are valid. It explains two principles: (1) exportation, which allows rewriting a conditional statement as another logically equivalent conditional statement, and (2) correspondence, where a valid argument corresponds to a tautologous conditional statement. Conditional proof works by assuming the antecedent of the conditional conclusion as an additional premise and deducing the consequent, proving the associated conditional statement is a tautology. Several examples of symbolizing arguments and using conditional proof are provided.

Uploaded by

Pratham Maan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Conditional Proof

BITS Pilani
Pilani Campus
Dr. Anupam Yadav
Conditional Proof

The rule is applied to those arguments whose conclusions


are conditional statements.
Two Principles: (i) Exportation & (ii) Correspondence.

 Every argument corresponds to a conditional statement


whose antecedent is the conjunction of argument’s
premises and consequent is the conclusion.
 The corresponding conditional is a tautology iff the
argument is valid.

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus


Contd.

pvq
~ p / q
A valid argument form corresponds to the tutologous form.
[(pvq).~p]  q

pq
q /p

corresponds to a nontautologous statement-form.


[(p  q) . q]  p

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus


Conditional Proof

If an argument has a conditional conclusion A  C, and if we


symbolize all the premises of the argument as P, the argument is valid
if and only if the conditional
P  ( A  C) is a tautology. (1)
If we can deduce the conclusion A  C by a sequence of elementary
valid arguments conjoined in P, we thereby prove the argument to be
valid and its associated conditional to be a tautology.
By exportation the statement (1) is logically equivalent to:
(P ∙ A )  C (2)
This represents a somewhat different argument. It has all the
premises but also an additional premise that is the antecedent of the
conclusion. If we can deduce the conclusion C from the premises
conjoined in P ∙ A, we thereby prove its associated conditional
statement (2) is a tautology.

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus


Conditional Proof

The conditional proof permits us to infer the validity of any


argument
P
\ AC
from a formal proof of validity for the argument
P
A
C
The conditional proof is constructed by assuming the
antecedent of the conclusion as an additional premise and
then deducing the consequent of the conclusion by a sequence
of elementary valid arguments.

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus


Conditional Proof

(A v B)  ( C ∙ D)
(D v E)  F
\ A F

1.(A v B)  ( C ∙ D)
2. (D v E)  F/ A  F
3. A /  F C.P.
4. A v B
5. C . D
6. D . C
7. D
8. D v E
9. F

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus


Formal Proof of Validity

1. A  (B  C)
2. B  (C  D)
 A  (B  D)
3 A/  (B  D) C.P.
4. B /  D C.P.

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus


Conditional Proof

A B
 A  (A . B)

1. A  B /  A  (A . B)
2. A /  (A . B) (C.P.)
3. B 1,2, M.P.
4. A. B 2,3, Conj.

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus


Symbolization and C.P.

1. If you plant tulips, then your garden will bloom early, and if
you plant asters, then your garden will bloom late. So, if
you plant either tulips or asters, then your garden will
bloom either early or late.

1. (T  E) . (A  L) / (T v A)  (E v L)
2. T v A /  (E v L) (C.P.)

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus


Symbolization and CP

If Argentina joins the alliance, then either Brazil or Chile


boycotts it. If Ecuador joins the alliance, then either Chile or
Peru boycotts it. Chile does not boycott it. Therefore, if
nether Brazil nor Peru boycotts it, then neither Argentina
nor Ecuador joins the alliance. (A,B,C,E,P).

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus


C.P.

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus


Symbolization

If you enter the primary, then if you campaign vigorously,


then you win the nomination. If you win the nomination and
receive the support of the party regulars, then you will be
elected. If you take the party platform seriously then you
will receive the support of the party regulars but will not be
elected. Therefore, if you enter the primary, then if you
campaign vigorously, then you do not take the party
platform seriously. (P,C,N,R,E,T).

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus


THANK YOU
BITS Pilani
Pilani Campus

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