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Full Idea
The ordinary conditional loses its point when the truth value of its antecedent is known.
Gist of Idea
Conditionals are pointless if the truth value of the antecedent is known
Source
Willard Quine (Word and Object [1960], §46)
Book Ref
Quine,Willard: 'Word and Object' [MIT 1969], p.221
A Reaction
A beautifully simple point that reveals a lot about what conditionals are.
19232 | In ordinary language a conditional statement assumes that the antecedent is true [Peirce] |
14279 | Asking 'If p, will q?' when p is uncertain, then first add p hypothetically to your knowledge [Ramsey] |
22432 | Normally conditionals have no truth value; it is the consequent which has a conditional truth value [Quine] |
15722 | Conditionals are pointless if the truth value of the antecedent is known [Quine] |
14282 | On the supposition view, believe if A,B to the extent that A&B is nearly as likely as A [Edgington] |
13854 | Conditionals express what would be the outcome, given some supposition [Edgington] |