Antecedent (logic)

Antecedent (logic)

An antecedent is the first half of a hypothetical proposition.

Examples:

* If P, then Q.

This is a standard logical formulation of a hypothetical proposition. In this case, the antecedent is P, and the consequent is Q.

* If X is a man, then X is mortal.

"X is a man" is the antecedent for this proposition.

* If men have walked on the moon, then I am the king of France.

Here, "men have walked on the moon" is the antecedent.

ee also

* Consequent
* Denying the antecedent (fallacy)


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  • antecedent — [an΄tə sēd′ nt] adj. [ME & OFr < L antecedens, prp. of antecedere, ANTECEDE] going or coming before in time, order, or logic; prior; previous; preceding n. 1. any happening or thing prior to another 2. anything logically preceding 3. [pl.] one …   English World dictionary

  • Antecedent — An te*ced ent, n. [Cf. F. ant[ e]c[ e]dent.] 1. That which goes before in time; that which precedes. South. [1913 Webster] The Homeric mythology, as well as the Homeric language, has surely its antecedents. Max Miller. [1913 Webster] 2. One who… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • logic — logicless, adj. /loj ik/, n. 1. the science that investigates the principles governing correct or reliable inference. 2. a particular method of reasoning or argumentation: We were unable to follow his logic. 3. the system or principles of… …   Universalium

  • Logic — For other uses, see Logic (disambiguation). Philosophy …   Wikipedia

  • logic, history of — Introduction       the history of the discipline from its origins among the ancient Greeks to the present time. Origins of logic in the West Precursors of ancient logic       There was a medieval tradition according to which the Greek philosopher …   Universalium

  • Antecedent — An antecedent is a preceding event, condition, cause, phrase, or word. *Antecedent moisture is a hydrologic term describing the relative wetness condition of a sewershed. *In logic, an antecedent is the first half of a hypothetical proposition.… …   Wikipedia

  • antecedent — antecedental /an teuh see den tl/, adj. antecedently, adv. /an teuh seed nt/, adj. 1. preceding; prior: an antecedent event. n. 2. a preceding circumstance, event, object, style, phenomenon, etc. 3. antecedents, a. ancestors. b. the history,… …   Universalium

  • antecedent — /æntəˈsidnt/ (say antuh seednt) adjective 1. (sometimes followed by to) going or being before; preceding; prior: an antecedent event. –noun 2. (plural) a. ancestry. b. one s past history. 3. a preceding circumstance, event, etc. 4 …  

  • antecedent — [ˌantɪ si:d(ə)nt] noun 1》 a thing that existed before or logically precedes another. 2》 (antecedents) a person s ancestors and social background. 3》 Grammar an earlier word, phrase, or clause to which a following pronoun refers back. 4》 Logic the …   English new terms dictionary

  • antecedent — n. & adj. n. 1 a preceding thing or circumstance. 2 Gram. a word, phrase, clause, or sentence, to which another word (esp. a relative pronoun, usu. following) refers. 3 (in pl.) past history, esp. of a person. 4 Logic the statement contained in… …   Useful english dictionary

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