Antecedent (logic)

An antecedent is the first half of a hypothetical proposition.

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Examples:

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• If P, then Q.

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

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• If X is a man, then X is mortal.

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

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

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

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Antecedent (logic): See also ►