Truth-functionality is the most important concept in propositional logic.Some compound propositions are truth-functional and some are not.In this essay,I explain the difference between truth-functional compound propos...Truth-functionality is the most important concept in propositional logic.Some compound propositions are truth-functional and some are not.In this essay,I explain the difference between truth-functional compound propositions and non-truth-functional compound propositions,using what I call“belief statements”as an example of the latter.My explanation of why belief statements are not truth-functional is both more thorough and(I submit)more illuminating than the explanations provided by the leading logic textbooks.The authors of these textbooks may wish to incorporate some of my suggestions into future editions.Alternatively,they may direct their students to this essay for edification.展开更多
文摘Truth-functionality is the most important concept in propositional logic.Some compound propositions are truth-functional and some are not.In this essay,I explain the difference between truth-functional compound propositions and non-truth-functional compound propositions,using what I call“belief statements”as an example of the latter.My explanation of why belief statements are not truth-functional is both more thorough and(I submit)more illuminating than the explanations provided by the leading logic textbooks.The authors of these textbooks may wish to incorporate some of my suggestions into future editions.Alternatively,they may direct their students to this essay for edification.
