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Revision difference : logical connective
Version 9 Version 8
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A \emph{logical connective} is a distinguished truth function. The classical logical connectives are: A \emph{logical connective} is a distinguished truth function. The classical logical connectives are:
\begin{itemize} \begin{itemize}
\item \item
$\lnot$: \PMlinkname{logical not}{Negation}; $\lnot$: \PMlinkname{logical not}{Negation};
\item \item
$\lor$: logical or; $\lor$: logical or;
\item \item
$\land$: logical and; $\land$: logical and;
\item \item
$\rightarrow$ or $\supset$: material implication; and $\rightarrow$ or $\supset$: material implication; and
\item \item
$\leftrightarrow$ or $\equiv$: \PMlinkname{material equivalence}{Biconditional}. $\leftrightarrow$ or $\equiv$: \PMlinkname{material equivalence}{Biconditional}.
\end{itemize} \end{itemize}
The symbols $\supset$ and $\equiv$ are due to Russell. The symbols $\supset$ and $\equiv$ are due to Russell.
Any truth function of any finite arity can be written as a finite combination of these connectives. However, the collection is redundant; the final three symbols, $\land$, $\rightarrow$, and $\leftrightarrow$, can be defined in terms of prior ones. By DeMorgan's law, we can define logical and by Any truth function of any arity can be written as a finite combination of these connectives. However, the collection is redundant; the final three symbols, $\land$, $\rightarrow$, and $\leftrightarrow$, can be defined in terms of prior ones. By DeMorgan's law, we can define logical and by
\[ \[
P\land Q := \lnot P\lor \lnot Q. P\land Q := \lnot P\lor \lnot Q.
\] \]
Material implication can be defined by Material implication can be defined by
\[ \[
P\rightarrow Q := \lnot P\lor Q. P\rightarrow Q := \lnot P\lor Q.
\] \]
Finally, material equivalence can be defined by Finally, material equivalence can be defined by
\begin{align*} \begin{align*}
P\leftrightarrow Q P\leftrightarrow Q
&:= (P\rightarrow Q)\land(Q\rightarrow P) \\ &:= (P\rightarrow Q)\land(Q\rightarrow P) \\
&= \lnot(\lnot P\lor Q)\lor\lnot(\lnot Q\lor P). &= \lnot(\lnot P\lor Q)\lor\lnot(\lnot Q\lor P).
\end{align*} \end{align*}
Hence $\lnot$ and $\vee$ suffice to define all other connectives. Hence $\lnot$ and $\vee$ suffice to define all other connectives.
In the late 19th century and early 20th century, C. S. Peirce and H. M. Sheffer independently discovered that a single binary connective suffices to define all logical connectives. Two such connectives are In the late 19th century and early 20th century, C. S. Peirce and H. M. Sheffer independently discovered that a single binary connective suffices to define all logical connectives. Two such connectives are
\begin{itemize} \begin{itemize}
\item \item
$\uparrow$: the \emph{Sheffer stroke} (sometimes denoted by $|$) and $\uparrow$: the \emph{Sheffer stroke} (sometimes denoted by $|$) and
\item \item
$\downarrow$: the \emph{Peirce arrow} (sometimes denoted by $\bot$). $\downarrow$: the \emph{Peirce arrow} (sometimes denoted by $\bot$).
\end{itemize} \end{itemize}
The Sheffer stroke is defined by the truth table The Sheffer stroke is defined by the truth table
\begin{center} \begin{center}
\begin{tabular}{ccc} \begin{tabular}{ccc}
$P$ & $Q$ & $P \uparrow Q$ \\ $P$ & $Q$ & $P \uparrow Q$ \\
\hline \hline
F & F & T \\ F & F & T \\
F & T & T \\ F & T & T \\
T & F & T \\ T & F & T \\
T & T & F T & T & F
\end{tabular} \end{tabular}
\end{center} \end{center}
Observe that $P\uparrow Q$ is true if and only if either $P$ or $Q$ is false. For this reason, the Sheffer stroke is sometimes called \emph{alternative denial} or \emph{NAND}. Observe that $P\uparrow Q$ is true if and only if either $P$ or $Q$ is false. For this reason, the Sheffer stroke is sometimes called \emph{alternative denial} or \emph{NAND}.
The Peirce arrow is defined by the truth table The Peirce arrow is defined by the truth table
\begin{center} \begin{center}
\begin{tabular}{ccc} \begin{tabular}{ccc}
$P$ & $Q$ & $P \downarrow Q$ \\ $P$ & $Q$ & $P \downarrow Q$ \\
\hline \hline
F & F & T \\ F & F & T \\
F & T & F \\ F & T & F \\
T & F & F \\ T & F & F \\
T & T & F T & T & F
\end{tabular} \end{tabular}
\end{center} \end{center}
The proposition $P\downarrow Q$ is true if and only if both $P$ and $Q$ are false. For this reason, the Peirce arrow is sometimes called \emph{joint denial} or \emph{NOR}. The proposition $P\downarrow Q$ is true if and only if both $P$ and $Q$ are false. For this reason, the Peirce arrow is sometimes called \emph{joint denial} or \emph{NOR}.
To show the sufficiency of the Sheffer stroke, all we have to do is define both $\lnot$ and $\lor$ in terms of $\uparrow$. The proposition $P\uparrow P$ asserts that either $P$ is false, or $P$ is false; thus we can define $\lnot$ by $\lnot P := P\uparrow P$. We define $\lor$ by To show the sufficiency of the Sheffer stroke, all we have to do is define both $\lnot$ and $\lor$ in terms of $\uparrow$. The proposition $P\uparrow P$ asserts that either $P$ is false, or $P$ is false; thus we can define $\lnot$ by $\lnot P := P\uparrow P$. We define $\lor$ by
\[ \[
P \lor Q := (P\uparrow P)\uparrow(Q\uparrow Q), P \lor Q := (P\uparrow P)\uparrow(Q\uparrow Q),
\] \]
since this asserts that either $P\uparrow P$ is false (that is, that $P$ is true) or that $Q\uparrow Q$ is false (that is, that $Q$ is true). since this asserts that either $P\uparrow P$ is false (that is, that $P$ is true) or that $Q\uparrow Q$ is false (that is, that $Q$ is true).
We can show the sufficiency of the Peirce arrow in a similar way. Define We can show the sufficiency of the Peirce arrow in a similar way. Define
\[ \[
\lnot P := P\downarrow P \lnot P := P\downarrow P
\] \]
and and
\[ \[
P\lor Q := (P\downarrow Q)\downarrow(P\downarrow Q). P\lor Q := (P\downarrow Q)\downarrow(P\downarrow Q).
\] \]
This expression asserts that $P\downarrow Q$ is false, that is, that it is false that both $P$ and $Q$ are false. By DeMorgan's law, this is equivalent to asserting that at least one of $P$ and $Q$ is true. This expression asserts that $P\downarrow Q$ is false, that is, that it is false that both $P$ and $Q$ are false. By DeMorgan's law, this is equivalent to asserting that at least one of $P$ and $Q$ is true.