Philosophy Things

Standard Deductive Forms: modus ponens, modus tollens, hypothetical syllogism, disjunctive syllogism, dilemma

Posted by beckyclay | May 19, 2010

Key:
p = Becky graduates college
q = Becky will have a well-rounded knowledgebase
r = Becky can make more money
s = Becky can live a better life

Modus ponens:
If (Becky graduates from college), then (Becky will have a well-rounded knowledgebase)
(Becky graduates from college).
Therefore, (Becky will have a well-rounded knowledgebase).

Modus tollens:
If (Becky graduates from college), then (Becky will have a well-rounded knowledgebase)
It is not the case that (Becky will have a well-rounded knowledgebase).
Therefore, it is not the case that (Becky graduates from college).

Hypothetical syllogism:
If (Becky graduates college), then (Becky will have a well-rounded knowledgebase)
If (Becky will have a well-rounded knowledgebase), then (Becky can make more money).
Therefore, if (Becky graduates college) then (Becky can make more money)

Disjunctive syllogism:
(Becky graduates college) or (Becky will have a well-rounded knowledgebase).
It is not the case that (Becky graduates college).
Therefore, (Becky will have a well-rounded knowledgebase).

Dilemma:
(Becky graduates college) or (Becky will have a well-rounded knowledgebase).
If (Becky graduates college) then (Becky can make more money).
If (Becky will have a well-rounded knowledgebase) then (Becky can live a better life).
Therefore, (Becky can make more money) or (Becky can live a better life).




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