The components of a disjunctive proposition--p and q--are called
disjuncts. Such a statement does not actually assert that p is
true, or that q is, but it does say that one or the other of them
is true.
Example:
If we know independently that one of the disjuncts is not
true, we can infer that the other must be true. If you know
that the meeting will be either in room 302 or 306, and
you find that it is not in 302, you can infer that it is in 306.
A disjunctive syllogism has the following structure:
Either the meeting is in room 302, or it is in room 306.
It is not in room 302.
Therefore, it is in room 306. |
So long as we eliminate all the disjuncts but one, that
one must be true--assuming, of course, that the disjunctive
premise is true to begin with.
The disjunctive syllogism proceeds by denying one of the
disjuncts. Is it equally valid to argue by affirming a disjunct?
Is the following inference valid?
Either p or q.
p.
Therefore, Not-q. |
The answer depends on how we are using the conjunction "or."
We sometimes use it in what is called the exclusive sense
to mean, "p or q but not both," as in, "Tom is either asleep or
reading." We also use "or" in the inclusive sense to mean, "p or
q or both," as in, "If she's tired or busy, she won't call back."
An argument that denies a disjunct is valid in either case, but
an argument that affirms a disjunct is valid only if "or" is used
in the exclusive sense.
The problem is that nothing in the logical form of the argument
tells us which sense is being used. To make it clear that p
and q are exclusive alternatives, people sometimes say, "p,
or else q." But, in most cases, we have to decide from the
context which sense is intended. For logical purposes, therefore,
we assume that "or" is used inclusively, so that affirming
a disjunct is fallacious.
In cases where such an argument seems valid intuitively, it is
easy to translate the argument into a different form that makes
the validity clear.
Comprehension Questions