Single Idea 14290

[catalogued under 10. Modality / B. Possibility / 8. Conditionals / c. Truth-function conditionals]

Full Idea

The doctor says "If the patient is still alive in the morning, change the dressing". As a truth-functional command this says "Make it that either the patient is dead in the morning, or change the dressing", so the nurse kills the patient.

Gist of Idea

Doctor:'If patient still alive, change dressing'; Nurse:'Either dead patient, or change dressing'; kills patient!

Source

Dorothy Edgington (Conditionals (Stanf) [2006], 5)

Book Reference

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.29


A Reaction

Isn't philosophy wonderful?

Related Idea

Idea 14305 In the truth-functional account a burnt-up match was soluble because it never entered water [Carnap]