Past exam of the logic and set theory course of the University of Oxford 2007 A 2 i Solution 2026-10-31
A logical derivation from is a finite sequence of propositional formulas, each either a member of , an instance of one of the three axioms, or obtained from earlier lines by one of the two displayed inference rules. The notation means that some such logical derivation ends in . Writing means derivability with no assumptions.
Propositional consistency means that there is no propositional formula for which both and . Equivalently not every propositional formula is derivable. To check the equivalence directly for this calculus, use the identity theorem proved in (ii): from and L3 obtain ; two uses of modus ponens rule give arbitrary . Thus a contradictory theory proves everything. Conversely a theory proving everything proves a propositional formula and its negation.
Past exam of the logic and set theory course of the University of Oxford 2007 A 2 v Solution 2026-10-31
Suppose both extensions were inconsistent. By the explosion argument in (i), the extension by proves , and the extension by proves . The deduction theorem for propositional logic therefore yieldsThe identity theorem gives and . Apply E to the first displayed logical implication and the identity logical implication with antecedent to obtain . Apply E to the identity logical implication with antecedent and the second displayed logical implication to obtain . This contradicts propositional consistency of .
Consequently at least one of the two one-formula extensions is propositionally consistent. The formal proof uses the source's own calculus, including its rule E, rather than assuming an unproved completeness theorem for this presentation.
Past exam of the logic and set theory course of the University of Oxford 2008 A 4 a Solution 2026-10-31
For a standard classical propositional calculus, strong completeness statesTogether with soundness, this identifies semantic consequence with formal derivability. One proves the contrapositive by the maximal consistent set in propositional logic construction. If , the set is propositionally consistent, by the deduction theorem for propositional logic and classical propositional reasoning. Extend it to a maximal consistent set in propositional logic , deciding each logical formula in turn. At each stage at least one selection of or preserves propositional consistency; a contradiction in the union would use only finitely many assumptions and hence already occur at a stage.
Define a Boolean valuation by exactly when . Maximal consistency in propositional logic gives exactly when , and exactly when either or . Structural induction on logical formulas therefore proves the maximal consistent set truth lemma . Thus satisfies but falsifies , contradicting semantic entailment. The countable language here permits an enumeration of logical formulas; the corresponding general-language argument uses a well-ordering or a principle of maximality in a partially ordered set.