CONDITIONAL

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STATEMENTS

MATERIAL
IMPLICATION
CONDITIONA

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MATERIAL

CONDITIONAL
IMPLICATION

STATEMENT
is where two statements are combined by
placing the word “if” before the first and
inserting the word “then” between them.

The term is also called a hypothetical, an

implication, or and implicative statement.
CONDITIONA
IF – THEN Phrase: “⊃”
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MATERIAL
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e.g.

If Jones passed the PhiLSAT,

then Jones is eligible to enroll in law school.

An antecedent is a component statement in a

conditional statement that follows the word “if,”
while a consequent is a component statement
that follows the word “then.”

Logical Translation: A⊃C

CONDITIONA

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MATERIAL
IMPLICATION

A conditional statement asserts that in any case

in which its antecedent is true, its consequent is
also true. The essential meaning of a conditional
statement is the relationship asserted to hold
between the antecedent and the consequent.
And the relationship refers to implication.
CONDITIONA

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4OFTYPES
MATERIAL
IMPLICATION

IMPLICATION

1. LOGICAL IMPLICATION
the consequent follows logically from its
antecedent.

e.g.If all humans are mortals and Socrates is

a human, then Socrates is mortal.
CONDITIONA

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MATERIAL
2. DEFINITIONAL IMPLICATION
IMPLICATION
the consequent follows the antecedent by
definition.
TYPES OF
IMPLICATIONS
e.g.If Jones is a lawyer, then Jones practices law.

3. CAUSAL IMPLICATION
the connection between the antecedent and
consequent is discovered empirically.

e.g.If Jones read his books, then Jones will pass

the exam.
CONDITIONA

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MATERIAL
4. DECISIONAL IMPLICATION
IMPLICATION
No logical connection nor one by definition
between the consequent and antecedent. This is
TYPES OF a decision of the speaker to behave in the
IMPLICATIONS
specified way under the specified circumstances.

e.g.If Jones passed the exam, then I’ll transfer

to another school.
CONDITIONA

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MATERIAL

MATERIAL
IMPLICATION

IMPLICATION
the symbol “⊃” represents this implication, it is
not the same kind of implication of the four
types. Not all conditional statements in English
need assert one of the four types of implication
previously considered.
CONDITIONA
A conditional of this sort is often used as an
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MATERIAL
IMPLICATION emphatic or humorous method of denying its
antecedent. The consequent of such a
conditional is usually a statement can have both
its antecedent true and its consequent false, to
affirm such a conditional amounts to denying
that its antecedent is true.

e.g.If Hitler was a military genius, then I’m a

monkeys uncle.
CONDITIONA

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IMPLICATION
• The word “if” can be replaced by such
phrases as “in case,” “provided that,” “given
that,” or “on condition that,” without any
change in meaning.

• The word “then” may be removed.

• The order of the antecedent and consequent

can be reversed, provided that the “if” still
directly precedes the antecedent.
CONDITIONA

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MATERIAL
IMPLICATION
The notions of necessary and sufficient
conditions provide other formulations of
conditional statements. For any specified event,
many circumstances are necessary for it to
occur. Thus, for a normal car to run, it is
necessary that there be fuel in its tank, its spark
plugs properly adjusted, and its oil pump
working, and so on. So if the event occurs, every
one of the conditions necessary for its
occurrence must have been fulfilled.
CONDITIONA e.g.That there is fuel in its tank.
a necessary condition for the car to run.
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Can equally well be stated as:

The car runs only if there is fuel in its tank.
R ⊃ F
p ⊃ q
Sufficient Condition Necessary Condition

 “q is a necessary condition for p”

 “p only if q” – “p ⊃ q”
CONDITIONA
Truth Table A, B, C = True
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MATERIAL
IMPLICATION
p q p⊃q X, Y, Z = False
T T T
T F F
F T T
F F T

A⊃B = Condition is True

B⊃Y = Condition is False

(A ⊃ B) ⊃ Z = Condition is False
CONDITIONA
Truth Table A, B, C = True
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MATERIAL
IMPLICATION
p q p⊃q X, Y, Z = False
T T T
T F F
F T T
F F T

[(A ⊃ B) ⊃ C] ⊃ Z
[(A ⊃ B) ⊃ C] ⊃ Z = False
[(A ⊃ X) ⊃ Y] ⊃ Z
[(A ⊃ X) ⊃ Y] ⊃ Z = False
T
CONDITIONA
Not every statement containing the word “if” is
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MATERIAL
IMPLICATION
a conditional. None of the following statements
is a conditional:

e.g.There is food in the refrigerator if you

want some.

Your table is ready. If you please.

There is a message for you if you’re

interested.

The meeting will be held even if no permit

is obtained.