Hellenistic Philosophy Introductory

(Marvins-Underground-K-12) #1

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it is day, it is light'. This is true; for 'it is not light', being the opposite
of the conclusion, conflicts with 'it is day'. A conditional is false if the
opposite of the conclusion does not conflict with the antecedent, for
example, 'if it is day, Dion is walking'; for 'it is not the case that Dion
is walking' does not conflict with 'it is day'.



  1. A paraconditional is true if it begins with a true [proposition] and
    concludes with one which follows [from it], for example, 'since it is day,
    the sun is over the earth.' A false [paraconditional] is one which either
    starts with a false [proposition] or concludes in one which does not follow
    from it, for example, 'since it is night, Dion is walking', if it is said when
    it is day. A true causal [proposition] is one which begins from a true
    [proposition] and concludes in one which follows from it, but whose first
    [proposition] does not follow from the conclusion; for example, 'because
    it is day, it is light'. For 'it is light' follows from 'it is day' and 'it is day'
    does not follow from 'it is light'. A false causal [proposition] is one which
    either [1] begins from a falsehood or [2] concludes in a [proposition]
    which does not follow from it or [3] one whose first [proposition] follows
    from the consequent.

  2. A persuasive proposition is one which leads to assent, for example,
    'if someone gave birth to something, she is its mother'. But this is false;
    for the bird is not the mother of the egg.
    Again, some [propositions] are possible and some are impossible; and
    some are necessary and some are not necessary. That [proposition] is
    possible which admits of being true, if external factors do not prevent
    it from being true, for example, 'Diodes is alive'. That [proposition] is
    impossible which does not admit of being true, for example, 'the earth
    flies'. The necessary is that which, being true, is not receptive of being
    false, or is receptive of being false but external factors prevent it from
    being false, for example, 'virtue is beneficial'. The non-necessary is that
    which both is true and is able to be false, with external factors not
    opposing it at all, for example, 'Dion is walking'.

  3. A reasonable proposition is one which has more chances at being
    true [than not], such as 'I will be alive tomorrow'.
    And there are other differences among propositions and changes of
    them from true to false, and conversions; these we discuss in a general
    fashion.
    As the followers of Krinis say, an argument is what is composed of a
    premiss, an additional statement, and a conclusion. For example, some-
    thing like this:


If it is day, it is light.
It is day.
Therefore, it is light.
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