• Belter
    89
    I think that the "empirical" truths (which state "A"), are a subset of the "possible" ones (that state "A" or "not-A"), and these are a subset of the "contingent" truths (which are the non-necessary ones, i.e, the truths whose denial does not led to a contradiction).
    Then, regarding "A", we can to define the "empirical" truth as "A", the "possible" one as "A or not-A" and the "necessary" one as "If not-A then B and not-B".
    Where do you think the analysis fails?

  • MindForged
    731
    It fails where you say possible truths are a subset of the contingent ones. Possibility encapsulates contingency.
  • Owen
    24

    It is false to say 'possible A' claims 'A or not A'.
    It is false to say 'A or not A' is contingent.

    'A or not A' is tautologous, necessarily true.
  • Belter
    89
    I resume my idea with other words:

    "A" is necessarily true iff "not-A -> (B and not-B)"
    "A" is possible true iff "A or not-A" is true
    "A" is empirically true iff "A" is true

    What fails in these definitions?
  • OwenAccepted Answer
    24


    1."A" is necessarily true iff "not-A -> (B and not-B)", is invalid.
    It fails when "A" is necessarily true if "not-A -> (B and not-B)".

    (not-A -> (B and not-B)) iff A, is a theorem.
    (not-A -> (B and not-B)) iff necessary A, is not a theorem.

    2. "A" is possible true iff "A or not-A" is true
    A or -A, is true for all values of A. Possible A is false when a is A contradiction.

    3. "A" is empirically true iff "A" is true.
    False, 'B or not-B' is true and 'B or not-B' is not empirical.
  • Belter
    89
    They are (informal) definitions, so their true is established a priori.
    I want to say that a "unnecessary" conclusion can be "invalid" in two ways ("possibly" and "impossibly" true). MP inference is a valid scheme (necessary), AC is invalid but "possible" and MT asymmetric (to infer "A") is "impossible" to be true.
    If something is not necessary, then it is contingent; if contingent, it can be possible and impossible. If it possible, also it can be "real" or "empirically" true.
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