A conclusion which is true in any model where the axioms are true, which we know because we went through a series of transformations-of-belief, each step being licensed by some rule which guarantees that such steps never generate a false statement from a true statement.
2) Then “A or «pigs can fly»” are true, since A is true
3) But we know that not-A is true! Therefore, the only way for “A or «pigs can fly»” to be true is to make «pigs can fly» true.
4) Therefore, pigs can fly.
The steps are clear, but this seems like cheating. Even more, this feels like a strange, alien inference. It’s like putting your keys in a pocket, popping yourself on the head to induce short-term memory loss and then using your inability to remember keys’ whereabouts to win a political debate. That isn’t how humans usually reason about things.
But the thing is, formal logic isn’t about reasoning about things. Formal logic is about preserving the truth; and if you assumed “A and not-A”, then there is nothing left to preserve.
How Wikipedia puts it:
An argument (consisting of premises and a conclusion) is valid if and only if there is no possible situation in which all the premises are true and the conclusion is false.
I want to add that this idea justifies material implication (“if 2x2 = 4, then sky is blue”) and other counter-intuitive properties of formal logic, like “you can prove anything, if you assume a contradiction/false statement”.
Usual way to show the latter goes like this:
1) Assume that “A and not-A” are true
2) Then “A or «pigs can fly»” are true, since A is true
3) But we know that not-A is true! Therefore, the only way for “A or «pigs can fly»” to be true is to make «pigs can fly» true.
4) Therefore, pigs can fly.
The steps are clear, but this seems like cheating. Even more, this feels like a strange, alien inference. It’s like putting your keys in a pocket, popping yourself on the head to induce short-term memory loss and then using your inability to remember keys’ whereabouts to win a political debate. That isn’t how humans usually reason about things.
But the thing is, formal logic isn’t about reasoning about things. Formal logic is about preserving the truth; and if you assumed “A and not-A”, then there is nothing left to preserve.
How Wikipedia puts it: