Definition:Conditional

The conditional is a binary connective written symbolically as $$p \Longrightarrow q$$ whose behaviour is as follows:

$$p \Longrightarrow q$$ is defined as "If $$p$$ is true, then $$q$$ is true."

This is known as a conditional statement, conditional proposition or just a conditional.

"$$p \Longrightarrow q$$" is voiced "if $$p$$ then $$q$$".

You may encounter different symbols which mean the same thing as $$p \Longrightarrow q$$, for example:
 * $$p \to q$$;
 * $$p \supset q$$, in which usage "$$\supset$$" is called the "hook" or "horseshoe" sign.

It is usual to use "$$\Longrightarrow$$", as then it can be ensured that it is understood to mean exactly the same thing when we use it in a more "mathematical" context. There are other uses in mathematics for the other symbols.

Semantics of the Conditional
We have stated that $$p \Longrightarrow q$$ means "If $$p$$ is true, then $$q$$ is true."

Alternatively, it can be said as:


 * "$$q$$ is true if $$p$$ is true."
 * "(The truth of) $$p$$ implies (the truth of) $$q$$."
 * "$$p$$ is true only if $$q$$ is true."

The latter one may need some explanation. $$p$$ can be either true or false, as can $$q$$. But if $$q$$ is false, and $$p \Longrightarrow q$$, then $$p$$ can not be true. Therefore, $$p$$ can be true only if $$q$$ is also true, which leads us to our assertion.


 * "$$p$$ may be true unless $$q$$ is false."
 * "$$q$$ is true whenever $$p$$ is true."
 * "$$q$$ is true provided that $$p$$ is true."
 * "$$p$$ is true therefore $$q$$ is true."
 * "$$q$$ is true because $$p$$ is true."
 * "$$p$$ is stronger than $$q$$" (and, by the same coin, "$$q$$ is weaker than $$p$$").
 * "$$q$$ is subalternate to $$p$$."
 * "$$q$$ is subimplicant to $$p$$."

We are at liberty to write this the other way round. $$q \Longleftarrow p$$ means the same as $$p \Longrightarrow q$$.

The language of the conditional
The conditional has been discussed at great length throughout the ages, and a whole language has evolved around it. For now, here are a few definitions:

Antecedent
In a conditional $$p \Longrightarrow q$$, the statement $$p$$ is the antecedent.

Some authors use the term "premise" (or "premiss"), but we already have a use for the term premise.

Other authors use the term "hypothesis", but this word has other applications (see hypothesis), so we prefer not to use it in this context.

Consequent
In a conditional $$p \Longrightarrow q$$, the statement $$q$$ is the consequent.

Some authors use the term "conclusion", but we already have a use for that term conclusion.

Sufficient Condition
If $$p \Longrightarrow q$$, then $$p$$ is a sufficient condition for $$q$$.

That is, if $$p \Longrightarrow q$$, then for $$q$$ to be true, it is sufficient to know that $$p$$ is true.

This is because of the fact that if you know that $$p$$ is true, you know enough to know also that $$q$$ is true.

Necessary Condition
If $$p \Longrightarrow q$$, then $$q$$ is a necessary condition for $$p$$.

That is, if $$p \Longrightarrow q$$, then it is necessary that $$q$$ be true for $$p$$ to be true.

This is because unless $$q$$ is true, $$p$$ can not be true.

Fallacies concerning the conditional
If we know that $$q$$ is true, and that $$p \Longrightarrow q$$, this tells us nothing about the truth value of $$p$$. This also takes some thinking about. Here is a plausible example which may illustrate this.

Let $$P$$ be the statement "$$x$$ is a whole number divisible by 4."

Let $$Q$$ be the statement "$$x$$ is an even whole number."

It is straightforward to prove the implication $$P \Longrightarrow Q$$. (We see that if $$P$$ is true, that is, that $$x$$ is a whole number divisible by 4, then $$x$$ must be an even whole number, so $$Q$$ is true.) However, $$Q$$ can quite possibly be an even number that is not divisible by 4, for example, $$x = 6$$. In this case, $$Q$$ is true, but $$P$$ is false.

To suppose otherwise is to commit a fallacy. So common are the fallacies that may be committed with regard to the conditional that they have been given names of their own:


 * Affirming The Consequent: If a conditional holds, and its consequent is true, it is a fallacy to assert that the antecedent is true. That is: $$p \Longrightarrow q, q \not \vdash p$$.


 * Denying The Antecedent: If a conditional holds, and its antecedent is false, it is a fallacy to assert that the consequent is false. That is: $$p \Longrightarrow q, \lnot p \not \vdash \lnot q$$.

Converse
The converse of the conditional $$p \Longrightarrow q$$ is the statement $$q \Longrightarrow p$$.

The converse of a true conditional is not necessarily true, and the converse of a false conditional is not necessarily false.

Inverse
The inverse of the statement $$p \Longrightarrow q$$ is the statement $$\lnot p \Longrightarrow \lnot q$$.

The inverse of a true conditional is not necessarily true, and the inverse of a false conditional is not necessarily false.

Contrapositive
The contrapositive of the conditional $$p \Longrightarrow q$$ is the statement $$\lnot q \Longrightarrow \lnot p$$.

The Rule of Transposition gives that a statement and its contrapositive have the same truth value.

Relationship between Inverse, Converse and Contrapositive
Notice that:
 * The inverse of a conditional is the converse of its contrapositive;
 * The inverse of a conditional is the contrapositive of its converse;
 * The converse of a conditional is the inverse of its contrapositive;
 * The converse of a conditional is the contrapositive of its inverse.