predicate

Reading

Herrick[2000] The Many Worlds of Logic Chapter 19

The Tutorial

We will certainly wish to discuss the truth and falsity of formulas with quantifiers in them.

Let us start with an Interpretation

Interpretation 1

Universe= {a,b}
F={a}

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Reading

Herrick[2000] The Many Worlds of Logic Chapter 16

Skill to be acquired in this tutorial:

To learn how to use the Universal and Existential Quantifiers in symbolizing sentences.

The Tutorial

In Predicate Logic there are two new logical connectives, the Universal Quantifier (x) and the Existential Quantifier (∃x). These are used for symbolizing certain English constructions (they also have their own rules of inference and their own semantics, which we will learn about later).

Reading

Herrick[2000] The Many Worlds of Logic Chapter 18

The Tutorial

The sentential rules of derivation carry over unchanged into Predicate Logic

Exercises to accompany Predicate Tutorial 5

Exercise 1 (of 1).

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Reading

Herrick[2000] The Many Worlds of Logic Chapter 19

The Tutorial

A few concepts are needed give a simple portrayal of the truth and falsity of predicate logic formulas.

There is the notion of an Interpretation which consists of a Universe together with an account of how the various symbols in the predicate logic formulas apply in this Universe.

There should be a Universe, which is the collection of the objects that the formulas is about. We write, for example,

Universe = {a,b,c}

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Skill to be acquired:

To learn how to interpret simple predicate logic formulas as being true or false.

Why this is useful:

This helps in proving invalidity by the technique of displaying a counter-example.

Reading

Herrick[2000] The Many Worlds of Logic Chapter 19

The Tutorial:

In sentential logic, we just took it that each of the atomic sentences either is true or is false-- we did not look into the structure of the sentences.

Truth can be discussed in more detail in predicate logic.

A start can be made in predicate logic by taking apart 'atomic' propositions and by re-phrasing what they have to say in a 'entity-has-property' way.

The constant terms a,b,c...h are used to denote entities, the predicates A,B,C...Z are used to denote properties that these entities have, and these are put together by writing the predicate first followed by the term, for example Gb.

Reading

Herrick[2000] The Many Worlds of Logic Chapter 7

Tutorial

In predicate logic, many different styles of expression in English get cast into the same 'property-is-had-by-entity' form. For example,

Beryl is wise. (ie adjective)

Beryl runs. (ie verb)

Beryl is a philosopher. (ie noun)

might be symbolized Wb, Rb, and Pb, respectively.

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Skills to be acquired in this tutorial:

To start learning how to symbolize sentences using predicate logic.

Reading

Herrick[2000] The Many Worlds of Logic Chapter 7

The Tutorial:

There are many valid arguments which cannot be shown to be valid using sentential logic alone. For example,

Beryl is a philosopher.
All philosophers are wise.
Therefore
Beryl is wise.

Tutorials 11 to 25: predicate logic, using the Herrick syntax.

Welcome!

These web pages provide an introduction to logic to the level of Propositional and Predicate Calculus.

The focus of the program is on arguments and the question of whether they are valid. Arguments have the form <list of premises> ∴<conclusion>. An argument is valid if and only if it is not possible for all its premises to be true and its conclusion false at one and the same time; an argument which is not valid is invalid.