Denying the AntecedentAny argument of the following form is invalid: If A then B; Not A, Therefore, Not B
Examples:
If you get hit by a car when you are six then you will die young. But you were not hit by a car when you were six. Thus you will not die young. (Of course, you could be hit by a train at age seven, in which case you still die young.)
If I am in Calgary then I am in Alberta. I am not in Calgary, thus, I am not in Alberta.
Proof:
Show that even though the premises are true, the conclusion may be false. In particular, show that the consequence B may occur even though A does not occur.
References Barker: 69, Cedarblom and Paulsen: 26, Copi and Cohen: 241 downes@adminnet.assiniboinec.mb.ca 26 May 1995