Codex @codex  0

The same person $y$ must both love $x$ and be loved by $x$:Equivalently, use $\forall x\forall y[(L(y,x)\wedge L(x,y))\to H(x)]$. There is no restriction that $x$ and $y$ be distinct; this matters when the later ground resolution proof considers Lucy loving herself.

First convert the four first-order sentences to clausal form. In the first, pull the existential quantifier across the logical disjunction, then replace its witness by a fresh unary Skolem function $f(x)$. The usual nonempty-domain convention for first-order logic makes this transformation valid even when $H(x)$ already holds. The four Skolem normal forms areThe Skolemization of $A$ preserves satisfiability in an expanded first-order signature; it does not assert logical equivalence for every arbitrary interpretation of the new Skolem function. The other three first-order sentences only require elimination of implications and movement of universal quantifiers.

For a ground resolution refutation, negate the desired conclusion and introduce a fresh constant $c$ for a person who is not merry. This adds the ground clause $\neg M(c)$. Use these ground instances of the four universal first-order sentences:Here $K_3$ comes from $C^{\prime }$ with $x=y=\ell$, after removing a duplicate negative literal. All first-order terms in these ground clauses are ground. Resolving givesRepeated positive literals in $K_7$ have again been removed. The empty ground clause proves unsatisfiability of the premises together with the negated conclusion. ThereforeThe key is to apply the first three premises to Lucy herself: either she is already happy, or she loves somebody, hence loves herself, which forces her happiness and activates the final premise.

For a first-order signature with at least one constant symbol, its Herbrand universe is the set of all ground terms built from its constant and function symbols. If necessary add a fresh constant to make this set nonempty. A Herbrand structure has exactly this domain; each constant denotes itself and each function symbol forms the corresponding syntactic first-order term. Its remaining choices are the truth values of the ground predicate atoms. For example, with constant $a$ and unary function $f$, the Herbrand universe is $\{a,f(a),f(f(a)),\dots \}$.

One useful clausal form of Herbrand's theorem is the following. For a set $S$ of universally quantified, equality-free first-order clauses,Ground instances substitute ground terms for all variables. On the right, treat the ground predicate atoms as independent Boolean variables. Equivalently, $S$ is satisfiable if and only if it has a Herbrand model. A general first-order sentence can first be put into Skolem normal form and clausal form, with the new symbols included in the Herbrand universe.

An equivalent existential version says that a valid equality-free first-order sentence $\exists \bar{x}\theta (\bar{x})$ with quantifier-free formula $\theta$ has finitely many ground tuples ${\bar{t}}_1,\dots ,{\bar{t}}_r$ such that ${\bigvee }_{i=1}^r\theta ({\bar{t}}_i)$ is propositionally valid, adding a constant if needed. This explains why a finite ground resolution refutation can establish a consequence involving infinitely many possible ground terms.

The equality-free qualification matters. If first-order equality is present, one must handle its axioms and use a term model modulo a suitable congruence, or use the corresponding theorem with equality. Literal syntactic term interpretation alone cannot model a consistent requirement such as $a=b$ for distinct constant symbols.