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Propositional Logic

Hulkenberg April 23, 2020 at 18:07 2450 views 6 comments
Hello guys, does anyone of you know how to transfor these premises and conclusion into propositional logic? Thank you

P1: TWA 800 was either shot down, bombed by terrorists, or it suffered from mechanical failure.
P2: TWA 800 was not bombed by terrorists.
P3: TWA 800 did not suffer from mechanical failure.
_________________________________
C: Therefore, TWA 800 was shot down.

Comments (6)

Pfhorrest April 23, 2020 at 20:58 #404758
That looks like propositional logic already.
aletheist April 23, 2020 at 21:11 #404762
A = TWA 800 was shot down
B = TWA 800 was bombed by terrorists
C = TWA 800 suffered from mechanical failure

P1: A or B or C
P2: not B
P3: not C
C: therefore, A
TheMadFool April 23, 2020 at 22:15 #404786
Quoting Hulkenberg
P1: TWA 800 was either shot down, bombed by terrorists, or it suffered from mechanical failure.
P2: TWA 800 was not bombed by terrorists.
P3: TWA 800 did not suffer from mechanical failure.
_________________________________
C: Therefore, TWA 800 was shot down.


S = TWA 800 was shot down
B = TWA 800 was bombed
M = TWA 800 suffered from a mechanical failure

1. (S v B) v M...............premise
2. ~B................................premise
3. ~M................................premise
4. S v B..........................1, 3 Disjunctive Syllogism
5. S.................................2, 4 Disjunctive Syllogism
QED
Hulkenberg April 24, 2020 at 09:00 #404977
Reply to TheMadFool

Thank you very much for your help. Is there any difference in using symbols? Instead of S, B, M may I use A, B, C?
jkg20 April 24, 2020 at 09:34 #404984
Reply to Hulkenberg By tradition propositions are represented with "P", "Q", "R" ... but it really does not matter what you choose as long as you stick with the same choice all the way through the analysis of the argument.
TheMadFool April 24, 2020 at 11:12 #405000
Quoting Hulkenberg
Thank you very much for your help. Is there any difference in using symbols? Instead of S, B, M may I use A, B, C?


You may use any symbol you like but a good practice is to use the first letter of the critical word in the sentence for easy recall and to help you keep track of the argument's flow; hence B = bombed, S = shot down and M = mechanical failure