The truth-functional hypothesis does not imply the liar’s paradox

Authors

  • Matheus Martins Silva

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4013/fsu.2016.173.12

Abstract

The truth-functional hypothesis states that indicative conditional sentences and the material implication have the same truth conditions. Haze (2011) has rejected this hypothesis. He claims that a self-referential conditional, coupled with a plausible assumption about its truth-values and the assumption that the truth-functional hypothesis is true, lead to a liar’s paradox. Given that neither the self-referential conditional nor the assumption about its truth-values are problematic, the culprit of the paradox must be the truth-functional hypothesis. Therefore, we should reject it. In this paper I argue that, contrary to what Haze thinks, the truth-functional hypothesis is not to blame. In fact, no liar’s paradox emerges when the truth-functional hypothesis is true; it emerges only if it is false.

Keywords: material implication, truth-functional hypothesis, liar’s paradox.

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Author Biography

Matheus Martins Silva

PhD in Philosophy (Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul)

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Published

2016-12-30

How to Cite

SILVA, M. M. The truth-functional hypothesis does not imply the liar’s paradox. Filosofia Unisinos / Unisinos Journal of Philosophy, São Leopoldo, v. 17, n. 3, p. 338–339, 2016. DOI: 10.4013/fsu.2016.173.12. Disponível em: https://revistas.unisinos.br/index.php/filosofia/article/view/fsu.2016.173.12. Acesso em: 19 sep. 2025.

Issue

Section

Philosophy South