Symbolic Logic:

The Language of Modern Logic

Technique

for analysis of deductive arguments

English (or any) language: can make any
argument appear vague, ambiguous; especially with
use of things like metaphors, idioms, emotional
appeals, etc.
Avoid these difficulties to move into logical heart of
argument: use symbolic language
Now

can formulate an argument with precision

Symbols facilitate our thinking about an argument
These

are called logical connectives

Logical Connectives
The

relations between elements that every

deductive argument must employ
Helps us focus on internal structure of
propositions and arguments
We can

translate arguments from sentences and

propositions into symbolic logic form

Simple

statement: does not contain any other

statement as a component
Charlie

is neat

Compound

statement: does contain another

statement as a component
Charlie

is neat and Charlie is sweet

Conjunction
Conjunction
Each

of two statements: and

statement is called a conjunct

Charlie

is neat (conjunct 1)
Charlie is sweet (conjunct 2)
The

symbol for conjunction is a dot

(Can
p

also be &)

P and

q (2 conjuncts)

Truth Values
Truth

value: every statement is either T or

F; the truth value of a true statement is
true; the truth value of a false statement is
false

Truth Values of Conjunction

Truth

value of conjunction of 2 statements

is determined entirely by the truth values
of its two conjuncts
A conjunction

statement is truth-functional
compound statement
Therefore our symbol (or &) is a truthfunctional connective

Truth Table of Conjunction

Given any two statements, p and q

p
T

q
T

pq
T

A conjunction is true if and only if both conjuncts are true

Abbreviation of Statements
Charlies neat

and Charlies sweet.

S
Dictionary: N=Charlies neat S=Charlies sweet
Can

choose any letter to symbolize each conjunct, but it is

best to choose one relating to the content of that conjunct to
make your job easier

Byron
P

was a great poet and a great adventurer.

Lewis

was a famous explorer and Clark was a

famous explorer.
L

 Jones

entered the country at New York and

went straight to Chicago.
and

here does not signify a conjunction

Cant say Jones went straight to Chicago and
entered the country at New York.
Therefore cannot use the here
Some

other words that can signify conjunction:

But
Yet
Also
Still
However
Moreover
Nevertheless
(comma)
(semicolon)

Negation
Negation:

contradictory or denial of a statement

not
i.e.

The
If

It is not the case that

symbol for negation is tilde ~

M=All humans are mortal, then

~M=It

is not the case that all humans are mortal.

~M=Some humans are not mortal.
~M=Not all humans are mortal.
~M=It is false that all humans are mortal.

All these can be symbolized with ~M

Truth Table for Negation

Where p is any statement, its negation is ~p

~p

Disjunction
Disjunction

of two statements: or
Symbol is v (wedge) (i.e. A v B = A or B)
Weak

(inclusive) sense: can be either case, and

possibly both
Ex.

Salad or dessert (well, you can have both)

We will treat all disjunctions in this sense (unless a problem
explicitly says otherwise)
Strong
Ex.

The

(exclusive) sense: one and only one

A or B (you can have A or B, at least one but not both)

two component statements so combined are

called disjuncts

Disjunction Truth Table

p

pvq

A (weak) disjunction is false only in the case that both its disjuncts are false

Disjunction
Translate:

You will do poorly on the exam unless you

study.
P=You

will do poorly on the exam.

S=You study.
P v

Unless

=v

Punctuation
As

in mathematics, it is important to correctly

punctuate logical parts of an argument
Ex.

(2x3)+6 = 12 whereas 2x(3+6)= 18

Ex. p q v r (this is ambiguous)
To avoid

ambiguity and make meaning clear

Make sure to order sets of parentheses when
necessary:
Example:

{ A [(B v C) (C v D)] } ~E
{ [ ( ) ] }

Punctuation
Either

Fillmore or Harding was the

greatest American president.
F

vH

To say

Neither Fillmore nor Harding was

the greatest American president. (the
negation of the first statement)
~(F

v H) OR (~F) (~H)

Punctuation
Jamal
~J

and Derek will both not be elected.

~D

In

any formula the negation symbol will be

understood to apply to the smallest statement that
the punctuation permits
i.e. above is NOT taken to mean ~[J (~D)]
Jamal
~(J

and Derek both will not be elected.

D)

Example
Rome

is the capital of Italy or Rome is the

capital of Spain.
I=Rome

is the capital of Italy

S=Rome is the capital of Spain
I

vS
Now that we have the logical formula, we can use the
truth tables to figure out the truth value of this
statement
When

doing truth values, do the innermost

conjunctions/disjunctions/negations first, working your way
outwards

I v S
1. We know that Rome is the capital of Italy and that Rome is not the
capital of Spain.
1. So we know that I is True, and that S is False. We put these
values directly under their corresponding letter

S
F

We know that for a disjunction, if at least one of the disjuncts is T, this is

enough to make the whole disjunction T

We put this truth value (that of the whole disjunction) under the v
(wedge)

T
T

S
F

Note
When

doing truth values, do the innermost

conjunctions/disjunctions/negations first,
working your way outwards
Ex.

Do ( ) first, then [ ], then finally { }

Homework:

Page 309-310 Part I (try 5 of these)

Page 310 Part II (try 10 of these)