Shaddai

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Hebrew for Christians
BS''D
Denying the Antecedent

Definition: Any argument of the following form is invalid:

    If p then q
    Not p
    Therefore, Not q.

Examples:

  1. If you were to get hit by a car when you are six, then you would die young. But you were not hit by a car when you were six. Thus you will not die young.

    (Of course, you could be hit by a train at age seven, in which case you still die young.)
     
  2. If I am in Minneapolis then I am in Minnesota.
    I am not in Minneapolis.
    Therefore, I am not in Minnesota.

    (No, I am in St. Paul, Minnesota.)
     

Proof: Show that even though the premises are true, the conclusion may be false. In particular, show that the consequence B may occur even though A does not occur.

References
Barker: 69, Cedarblom and Paulsen: 26, Copi and Cohen: 241



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