Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Through the Looking Glass', 'Introduction to the Philosophy of Mathematics' and 'Negation'

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5 ideas

4. Formal Logic / E. Nonclassical Logics / 2. Intuitionist Logic
Intuitionist logic looks best as natural deduction [Mares]
     Full Idea: Intuitionist logic appears most attractive in the form of a natural deduction system.
     From: Edwin D. Mares (Negation [2014], 5.5)
Intuitionism as natural deduction has no rule for negation [Mares]
     Full Idea: In intuitionist logic each connective has one introduction and one elimination rule attached to it, but in the classical system we have to add an extra rule for negation.
     From: Edwin D. Mares (Negation [2014], 5.5)
     A reaction: How very intriguing. Mares says there are other ways to achieve classical logic, but they all seem rather cumbersome.
Rejecting double negation elimination undermines reductio proofs [Colyvan]
     Full Idea: The intuitionist rejection of double negation elimination undermines the important reductio ad absurdum proof in classical mathematics.
     From: Mark Colyvan (Introduction to the Philosophy of Mathematics [2012], 1.1.3)
Showing a disproof is impossible is not a proof, so don't eliminate double negation [Colyvan]
     Full Idea: In intuitionist logic double negation elimination fails. After all, proving that there is no proof that there can't be a proof of S is not the same thing as having a proof of S.
     From: Mark Colyvan (Introduction to the Philosophy of Mathematics [2012], 1.1.3)
     A reaction: I do like people like Colyvan who explain things clearly. All of this difficult stuff is understandable, if only someone makes the effort to explain it properly.
4. Formal Logic / E. Nonclassical Logics / 3. Many-Valued Logic
Three-valued logic is useful for a theory of presupposition [Mares]
     Full Idea: One reason for wanting a three-valued logic is to act as a basis of a theory of presupposition.
     From: Edwin D. Mares (Negation [2014], 3.1)
     A reaction: [He cites Strawson 1950] The point is that you can get a result when the presupposition does not apply, as in talk of the 'present King of France'.