The Logic of Symbolic Logic

By

Anthony J. Fejfar, B.A., J.D., Esq., Coif

©Copyright 2010 by Anthony J. Fejfar

The starting, Foundational Principle for Symbolic Logic is the Concrete Logical

Principle of Non-Contradiction. It is Self-Evident, and confirmed by sense experience,

that you cannot have (A)pple and not (A)pple at the same time. Thus, put more

abstractly, you cannot have A and –A at the same time. This leads to the Corollary

Principle that an idea cannot be both True and False at the same time. An idea is either

True or False. This provides the basic test for all further logical syllogisms of Symbolic

Logic. The test for validity of a syllogism is whether or not it involves a logical

contradiction, if it does not, then it is logically valid, or True. Put another way, it can be

proven that there are logical syllogisms which are reasonably valid, and which provide

the basis for reasonable rules.

We can start by considering the logical syllogism: If A, then B, A, therefore,

B. This is the causal syllogism. Putting this in a testing format, we start with the

following: Assume that if A, then, B, A, therefore, B. Then, we logically analyze the

foregoing to see if this syllogism results in a logical contradiction.

1. Assume that if A, then, B, A, therefore, B.

2. Assume that A is not B, and, that B is not A.

3. Assume A.

4. From A, derive B.

5. A is not B.
 6. Derive A and B.

7. Thus, from the syllogism, If A, then B, A, therefore B, you can logically

derive the result A and B.

Moreover, you can also logically analyze the syllogism A or B, to see if it is

logically valid for Symbolic Logic. Thus, we start by assuming, A or B.

1. Assume A is not B, and B is not A.

2. Assume A or B.

3. Derive A and not B.

4. Derive A.

Alternatively,

1. Assume A is not B, and B is not A.

2. Assume A or B.

3. Derive B and not A.

4. Derive B.

Logical Conclusion

1. A or B is a logically valid syllogism.

2. From A or B you can alternatively derive A with one assumption, and B

with another assumption.

3. You cannot logically derive A and B, from A or B.

4. Thus, you cannot logically have a conjunction and a disjunction in the

same logical proof where each uses the same two variables, e.g., A B.