Consider the argument:
|
If p, then q. |
If you play with fire, you will get burned. |
p.
|
You played with fire.
|
|
Therefore, q. |
Therefore, you got burned. |
Any argument of this form is valid, because it merely unfolds
what is implicit in the meaning of the hypothetical premise. That
premise says that the truth of p would be sufficient for the
truth of q. If we then assume that p is true, we may conclude
that q is true as well.