Single Idea 15423

[catalogued under 10. Modality / B. Possibility / 8. Conditionals / a. Conditionals]

Full Idea

It is contentious whether conditionals have negations, and whether 'it is not the case that if A,B' has any clear meaning.

Gist of Idea

It is doubtful whether the negation of a conditional has any clear meaning

Source

John P. Burgess (Philosophical Logic [2009], 4.9)

Book Reference

Burgess,John P.: 'Philosophical Logic' [Princeton 2009], p.96


A Reaction

This seems to be connected to Lewis's proof that a probability conditional cannot be reduced to a single proposition. If a conditional only applies to A-worlds, it is not surprising that its meaning gets lost when it leaves that world.