Modus Tollens - Formal Notation

Formal Notation

The modus tollens rule may be written in sequent notation:

where is a metalogical symbol meaning that is a syntactic consequence of and in some logical system;

or as the statement of a functional tautology or theorem of propositional logic:

where, and are propositions expressed in some logical system;

or including assumptions:

though since the rule does not change the set of assumptions, this is not strictly necessary.

More complex rewritings involving modus tollens are often seen, for instance in set theory:

("P is a subset of Q. x is not in Q. Therefore, x is not in P.")

Also in first-order predicate logic:

("For all x if x is P then x is Q. There exists some x that is not Q. Therefore, there exists some x that is not P.")

Strictly speaking these are not instances of modus tollens, but they may be derived using modus tollens using a few extra steps.

Read more about this topic:  Modus Tollens

Famous quotes containing the word formal:

    This is no argument against teaching manners to the young. On the contrary, it is a fine old tradition that ought to be resurrected from its current mothballs and put to work...In fact, children are much more comfortable when they know the guide rules for handling the social amenities. It’s no more fun for a child to be introduced to a strange adult and have no idea what to say or do than it is for a grownup to go to a formal dinner and have no idea what fork to use.
    Leontine Young (20th century)