Consequent
Encyclopedia
A consequent is the second half of a hypothetical proposition
. In the standard form of such a proposition, it is the part that follows "then".
Examples:
Q is the consequent of this hypothetical proposition.
Here, "X is an animal" is the consequent.
"They are alive" is the consequent.
The consequent in a hypothetical proposition is not necessarily a consequence of the antecedent
.
"Fish speak Klingon" is the consequent here, but intuitively is not a consequence of (nor does it have anything anything to do with) the claim made in the antecedent that "monkeys are purple".
Proposition
In logic and philosophy, the term proposition refers to either the "content" or "meaning" of a meaningful declarative sentence or the pattern of symbols, marks, or sounds that make up a meaningful declarative sentence...
. In the standard form of such a proposition, it is the part that follows "then".
Examples:
- If P, then Q.
Q is the consequent of this hypothetical proposition.
- If X is a mammal, then X is an animal.
Here, "X is an animal" is the consequent.
- If computers can think, then they are alive.
"They are alive" is the consequent.
The consequent in a hypothetical proposition is not necessarily a consequence of the antecedent
Antecedent (logic)
An antecedent is the first half of a hypothetical proposition.Examples:* If P, then Q.This is a nonlogical formulation of a hypothetical proposition...
.
- If monkeys are purple, then fish speak KlingonKlingonKlingons are a fictional warrior race in the Star Trek universe.Klingons are recurring villains in the 1960s television show Star Trek: The Original Series, and have appeared in all five spin-off series and eight feature films...
.
"Fish speak Klingon" is the consequent here, but intuitively is not a consequence of (nor does it have anything anything to do with) the claim made in the antecedent that "monkeys are purple".