Rules of Inference

The Method of Proof

The construction of truth-tables provides a reliable method of evaluating the validity of

Fortunately, there is another, shorter way to proceed, by constructing a formal proof of the
validity of an argument. The basic notion underlying this new method is that since a chain of
interrelated arguments is valid so long as each of its links is valid, we can demonstrate the
validity of an argument by starting with its premises, taking one tiny valid step at a time, and
finally reaching its conclusion. The only limitations we need to impose on this procedure are that
each of our tiny steps must be a substitution-instance of some valid argument form and that we
can discover a seamless path leading from premises to conclusion.

Although any valid pattern of inferences could be used in this proof procedure, we will make
things easier by relying on a very short list of valid argument forms. Each new step that we take
in constructing a proof must then be a substitution-instance of one of these rules of inference.
You've already seen four of them:

M.P. M.T. H.S. D.S.

p ⊃ q p ⊃ q p ⊃ q
p ∨q 1st Premise 2nd Prem. Conc.

p q r s (p⊃ q)•(r⊃ s p ∨r q ∨s
)
p ~ q q ⊃
r ~ p T T T T T T T
_______ _______
_______ _____ T T T F F T T
T T F T T T T
q ~ p p ⊃
r q T T F F T T T
T F T T F T T
We'll add just five more, making a total of nine T F T F F T F
elementary valid argument forms to be used as
rules of inference. T F F T F T T
T F F F F T F
Constructive Dilemma F T T T T T T
F T T F F T T
The most complex of our rules of inference is
Constructive Dilemma (abbreviated as C.D.). F T F T T F T
Since it involves four statement variables, the F T F F T F T
F F T T T T T
F F T F F T F
F F F T T F T
F F F F T F F
truth-table that shows its validity must take into account sixteen different combinations of truth-
values.

The argument form of a constructive dilemma is:

(p ⊃ q) • (r ⊃ s)

p ∨r
_____________________

q ∨s
The premises are true on lines 1, 3, 4, 9, and 13, and on each of these lines the conclusion is also
true. Thus, the inference is valid, and we can be sure that every argument that is a substitution-
instance of this argument form must be valid.

Premise Conclusion
Absorption p q p⊃ q p⊃ (p•q)
T T T T
Absorption (Abs.) has the simpler form:
T F F F
p ⊃ q F T T T
_____________
F F T T
p ⊃ (p • q)
The truth-table at the right shows the validity of all substitution-instances of this argument form.
Whenever its premise is true, the conclusion is true as well. (In fact, you may notice that, in this
unusual instance, it is also true that the premise is true whenever the conclusion is. The two
statement forms are logically equivalent to each other.)

Premise Conclusion
Simplification
p q p•q p
The Simplification (Simp.) rule permits us to infer the truth of a T T T T
conjunct from that of a conjunction. T F F T
F T F F
p • q
_____ F F F F
p
Its truth-table is at right. Notice that Simp. warrants only an inference to the first of the two
conjuncts, even though the truth of the second conjunct could be also be derived.

Conjunction
 1st Premise 2nd Premise Conclusion
p q p•q
On the other hand, Conjunction (Conj.) permits the T T T
derivation of a conjunction from the truth of both of its T F F
conjuncts.
F T F
p F F F
q
_____

p • q
As the truth-table at the right illustrates, this is a natural inference from our definition of the
connective.

Premise Conclusion
Addition p q p p ∨q
T T T T
Finally, Addition (Add.) is the argument form:
T F T T
p F T F T
_____
F F F F
p ∨q
This rule warrants the inference from any true statement to its disjunction with anything
whatsoever. This is an amazingly powerful device, since it permits us to introduce any new
statement whatsoever into the context of a proof. Our challenge in applying it will lie in
discovering an appropriate or helpful substitution for q in each specific case.

Constructing a Proof

Now let's see how to use these nine rules of inference in order to demonstrate the validity of
arguments in the propositional calculus. Consider, for example, the argument:

A ⊃ (B ∨ ~C)

D ⊃ C

~B
______________

~D
In order to construct a formal proof of the validity of this argument, we begin by numbering each
of its premises and indicating that we are assuming their truth as the premises of an argument:
1. A ⊃ (B ∨ ~C) premise
2. D ⊃ C premise
3. A premise
4. ~B premise
Next, we notice that premise 1 has the form p⊃q and that premise 3 is the antecedent of that
conditional. That is, premises 1 and 3, taken together, are the premises of an argument that is a
substitution-instance of the valid argument form known as Modus Ponens. The conclusion of that
argument would be the consequent of the conditional, or B ∨ ~C. Thus, we can take the tiny step
of adding this conclusion to our list of established statements, indicating at the right a simple
justification that explains exactly where it came from, by listing the previous statements used as
premises of an argument that follows one of the rules of inference.
1. A ⊃ (B ∨ ~C) premise
2. D ⊃ C premise
3. A premise
4. ~B premise

5. B ∨ ~C 1, 3 M.P.
In the same way, we can now use this new statement, together with statement 4, as the premises
of a substitution-instance of D.S., which justifies the further conclusion ~C.
1. A ⊃ (B ∨ ~C) premise
2. D ⊃ C premise
3. A premise
4. ~B premise

5. B ∨ ~C 1, 3 M.P.
6. ~C 5, 4 D.S.
Finally, this new statement and statement 2 are the premises of a substitution instance of M.T.
which justifies the conclusion ~D.
1. A ⊃ (B ∨ ~C) premise
2. D ⊃ C premise
3. A premise
4. ~B premise

5. B ∨ ~C 1, 3 M.P.
6. ~C 5, 4 D.S.
7. ~D 2, 6 M.T.
But this was the conclusion of the original argument, so by proceeding step by valid step, we
have shown that if the premises of that original argument (1-4) are true, then its conclusion (7)
must also be true. Since each step in our proof relies only upon a rule of inference and the
supposed truth of earlier statements, the entire chain of reasoning must be valid.