modus tollens
English
Alternative forms
- MT (initialism)
Etymology
From Latin modus tollendō tollēns (“the mode where the denying denies”), from modus (“mode”) and forms of tollō (“I deny”).
Noun
modus tollens (uncountable)
- (philosophy, logic) A valid form of argument in which the consequent of a conditional proposition is denied, thus implying the denial of the antecedent. Modus tollens has this form:
- 1. If P, then Q.
- 2. Not Q.
- 3. Therefore, not P.
Hypernyms
- inference rule
- See also Thesaurus:argument form
Related terms
- modus ponens
Translations
a valid form of argument in which the consequent of a condition proposition is denied
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