Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Realism in Mathematics', 'Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy' and 'Continuity and Irrational Numbers'

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2 ideas

10. Modality / B. Possibility / 8. Conditionals / c. Truth-function conditionals
Inferring q from p only needs p to be true, and 'not-p or q' to be true [Russell]
     Full Idea: In order that it be valid to infer q from p, it is only necessary that p should be true and that the proposition 'not-p or q' should be true.
     From: Bertrand Russell (Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy [1919], XIV)
     A reaction: Rumfitt points out that this approach to logical consequences is a denial of any modal aspect, such as 'logical necessity'. Russell observes that for a good inference you must know the disjunction as a whole. Could disjunction be modal?...
All forms of implication are expressible as truth-functions [Russell]
     Full Idea: There is no need to admit as a fundamental notion any form of implication not expressible as a truth-function.
     From: Bertrand Russell (Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy [1919], XIV)
     A reaction: Note that this is from a book about 'mathematical' philosophy. Nevertheless, it seems to have the form of a universal credo for Russell. He wasn't talking about conditionals here. Maybe conditionals are not implications (in isolation, that is).