more from Thomas Mautner

Single Idea 6878

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / B. Logical Consequence / 8. Material Implication]

Full Idea

'Implying' is different from 'inferring', because a person who infers draws the conclusion, but a person who implies leaves it to the audience to draw the conclusion.

Gist of Idea

A person who 'infers' draws the conclusion, but a person who 'implies' leaves it to the audience

Source

Thomas Mautner (Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy [1996], p.279)

Book Reference

Mautner,Thomas: 'Dictionary of Philosophy' [Penguin 1997], p.279


A Reaction

I had always taken it just that the speaker does the implying and the audience does the inferring. Of course a speaker may not know what he or she is implying, but an audience must be aware of what it is inferring.