= Solution
The premise limits every possible <existential witness> to the objects named by $c_0,c_1$; it does not assert that these constants name distinct objects. Instantiate it at a fresh witness $v$, then apply <disjunction elimination>. In the first case <equality elimination rule> transfers $R(v)$ to $R(c_0)$; in the second it transfers $R(v)$ to $R(c_1)$, contradicting the assumed <negation>. The full <natural deduction> derivation is
$$
\begin{array}{rll}
1&\forall x\,(x=c_0\lor x=c_1)&\text{premise}\\
2&\vert\ \neg R(c_1)&\text{assumption}\\
3&\vert\ \vert\ \exists x\,R(x)&\text{assumption}\\
4&\vert\ \vert\ \vert\ R(v)&\text{witness assumption; }v\text{ fresh}\\
5&\vert\ \vert\ \vert\ v=c_0\lor v=c_1&\forall\text{-elim }1\\
6&\vert\ \vert\ \vert\ \vert\ v=c_0&\text{first case assumption}\\
7&\vert\ \vert\ \vert\ \vert\ R(c_0)&=\text{-elim }6,4\\
8&\vert\ \vert\ \vert\ \vert\ v=c_1&\text{second case assumption}\\
9&\vert\ \vert\ \vert\ \vert\ R(c_1)&=\text{-elim }8,4\\
10&\vert\ \vert\ \vert\ \vert\ \bot&\neg\text{-elim }9,2\\
11&\vert\ \vert\ \vert\ \vert\ R(c_0)&\bot\text{-elim }10\\
12&\vert\ \vert\ \vert\ R(c_0)&\lor\text{-elim }5,6\text{--}7,8\text{--}11\\
13&\vert\ \vert\ R(c_0)&\exists\text{-elim }3,4\text{--}12\\
14&\vert\ (\exists x\,R(x))\to R(c_0)&\to\text{-intro }3\text{--}13\\
15&\neg R(c_1)\to((\exists x\,R(x))\to R(c_0))&\to\text{-intro }2\text{--}14
\end{array}
$$
The sibling case <subproofs> end before the witness <subproof> closes. At line 13, $v$ is absent from $R(c_0)$ and from all surrounding assumptions, so no <witness escape> occurs. The final two applications of <implication introduction> give
$$
\boxed{\forall x\,(x=c_0\lor x=c_1)\ \vdash\ \neg R(c_1)\to(\exists x\,R(x))\to R(c_0).}
$$
The <logical falsity elimination rule> is needed to complete the contradictory second case with the same conclusion as the first case.
Back to article page