Single Idea 9014

[catalogued under 10. Modality / B. Possibility / 8. Conditionals / b. Types of conditional]

Full Idea

Often the purpose of a conditional, 'if p, q', can be served simply by negation and conjunction: not(p and not-q), the so-called 'material conditional'.

Gist of Idea

Some conditionals can be explained just by negation and conjunction: not(p and not-q)

Source

Willard Quine (Philosophy of Logic [1970], Ch.2)

Book Reference

Quine,Willard: 'Philosophy of Logic' [Prentice-Hall 1970], p.24


A Reaction

Logicians love the neatness of that, but get into trouble elsewhere with conditionals, particularly over the implications of not-p.