Neha Patil (Editor)

Consequent

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A consequent is the second half of a hypothetical proposition. In the standard form of such a proposition, it is the part that follows "then". In an implication, if P implies Q, then P is called the antecedent and Q is called the consequent. In some contexts the consequent is called the apodosis.

Examples:

  • If P , then Q .
  • Q is the consequent of this hypothetical proposition.

  • If X is a mammal, then X is an animal.
  • Here, " X is an animal" is the consequent.

  • If computers can think, then they are alive.
  • "They are alive" is the consequent.

    The consequent in a hypothetical proposition is not necessarily a consequence of the antecedent.

  • If monkeys are purple, then fish speak Klingon.
  • "Fish speak Klingon" is the consequent here, but intuitively is not a consequence of (nor does it have anything to do with) the claim made in the antecedent that "monkeys are purple".

    References

    Consequent Wikipedia