Implications Versus Suggestions
Previous: Talking About Logic
In a dictionary you may find that the verb to imply also means to
suggest. Words which say when one event occurs so does or will a second
are called suggestions or implications. Suggestions and implications can be
true. True here means obeyed or at least not disobeyed. Suggestions and
implications can be false. False here means disobeyed. In our reasoning process,
we want to say with certainty that when this occurs so will that.
In practice, we may have to be content with saying when this occurs, so
may that. Knowing which of our rules are sure or which are uncertain
identifies the weaknesses in our reasoning processes. The implication rules that
are never disobeyed provide the most certain suggestions in reason.
In logic, when we speak of implication rules, we speak of rules which
we hope are never disobeyed. Rules which might be disobeyed are called
conjectures, suggestions or guesses. Evidence (persuasion) should be required to
convince us that a conjecture or suggestion is a reliable implication. We can
imagine or suggest more than we can prove. Caution is advised on hearing a rule.
Before applying a rule, you need to know how certain it is. Is it a reliable
implication or merely an uncertain suggestion?
Chapter Subsections: [ 4. First Puzzle ] [ 4. Second Puzzle ] [ 4. IF versus IFF ] [ 4. Joking About Logic ] [ 4. Imply or Suggest ] [ 4. One vs Two-Way Committents ] [ 4. Repeat- & Reproduc-ible? ] [ 4. Rules Limits & Benefits ] [ 4. Accidental Rules ] [ 4. Steps for Better Reason ]
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Suggestions
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