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Single Idea 8082

[from 'Goodbye Descartes' by Keith Devlin, in 5. Theory of Logic / B. Logical Consequence / 7. Strict Implication ]

Full Idea

Implication involves some form of link or causality between the antecedent and the consequent of an if-then; normally it says that the conclusion is a consequence of the premise (where conditionals are just defined by 'true' and 'false').

Gist of Idea

Where a conditional is purely formal, an implication implies a link between premise and conclusion

Source

Keith Devlin (Goodbye Descartes [1997], Ch. 2)

Book Reference

Devlin,Keith: 'Goodbye Descartes: the end of logic' [Wiley 1997], p.48


A Reaction

This distinction is a key one when discussing 'If-then' sentences. Some are merely formal conditionals, but others make real claims about where you can get to from where you are.