more from David Bostock

Single Idea 13540

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / K. Features of Logics / 2. Consistency]

Full Idea

'Γ |=' means 'Γ is a set of closed formulae, and there is no (standard) interpretation in which all of the formulae in Γ are true'. We abbreviate this last to 'Γ is inconsistent'.

Gist of Idea

A set of formulae is 'inconsistent' when there is no interpretation which can make them all true

Source

David Bostock (Intermediate Logic [1997], 4.5)

Book Reference

Bostock,David: 'Intermediate Logic' [OUP 1997], p.165


A Reaction

This is a semantic approach to inconsistency, in terms of truth, as opposed to saying that we cannot prove both p and ¬p. I take this to be closer to the true concept, since you need never have heard of 'proof' to understand 'inconsistent'.