Single Idea 10992

[catalogued under 10. Modality / B. Possibility / 8. Conditionals / a. Conditionals]

Full Idea

The point of conditionals is to show that one will accept modus ponens.

Clarification

'Modus ponens' says 'if P then Q' and 'P', so 'Q'

Gist of Idea

The point of conditionals is to show that one will accept modus ponens

Source

Stephen Read (Thinking About Logic [1995], Ch.3)

Book Reference

Read,Stephen: 'Thinking About Logic' [OUP 1995], p.72


A Reaction

[He attributes this idea to Frank Jackson] This makes the point, against Grice, that the implication of conditionals is not conversational but a matter of logical convention. See Idea 21396 for a very different view.

Related Idea

Idea 21396 Man is distinguished by knowing conditional truths, because impressions are connected [Stoic school, by Long]