| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Mike Ruskai" |
| Date: |
19 Jul 2004 12:23:02 AM |
| Object: |
OT: "Just in case" and "if and only if" |
A short while back, I came across a Logic 101 text I had from college. I
decided to read through it, because I tend to do such things (I had
recently finished reading a college chemistry book).
I ran into something that struck me as odd the first time I had read the
book (in college), and struck me just as odd on the rereading - the use of
"just in case" as synonymous with "if and only if".
To me, you don't bring an umbrella if and only if it's going to rain. You
bring an umbrella just in case it is going to rain, and there's a huge
difference in meaning between the two statements. I've never heard anyone
say nor read anyone write the phrase any differently than I do, outside of
this logic book.
Until I did a cursory search online, and found that the synonymous
association of "just in case" with "if and only if" to be possibly common
in logic (academically speaking).
Anyone have some insight on this?
--
- Mike
Remove 'spambegone.net' and reverse to send e-mail.
.
|
|
| User: "Bob Dog" |
|
| Title: Re: OT: "Just in case" and "if and only if" |
19 Jul 2004 09:40:26 AM |
|
|
"Mike Ruskai" <spamten.knilhtrae@begonedynnaht.net> wrote in message news:<gunaalqrneguyvaxarg.i132yc1.pminews@news.east.earthlink.net>...
Until I did a cursory search online, and found that the synonymous
association of "just in case" with "if and only if" to be possibly common
in logic (academically speaking).
Anyone have some insight on this?
In comp-sci, "if and only if" or IFF as VAX macro assembler
uses it, it means no other conditions are considered. A
normal if statement anticipates or allows for exceptions,
IFF doesn't.
That's one take on it, not the be-all-and-end-all answer.
Bob Dog
.
|
|
|
|
| User: "Brian E. Clark" |
|
| Title: Re: OT: "Just in case" and "if and only if" |
19 Jul 2004 12:25:50 PM |
|
|
Mike Ruskai <spamten.knilhtrae@begonedynnaht.net> wrote:
Until I did a cursory search online, and found that the synonymous
association of "just in case" with "if and only if" to be possibly common
in logic (academically speaking).
Anyone have some insight on this?
Is there a word "homophrase" or some Latin equivalent, to denote two
identical phrases with different meanings? :)
In normal English usage, the phrase "just in case" means "On the chance
that" or "If the need should arise," with the word "just" taking on its
(somewhat less common) usage of "possibly," as in "He just may graduate
after all."
When the phrase is used in logic, the word "just" indicates "only," as
in "only in case," meaning "only [in] the case [that]..."
--
-----------
Brian E. Clark
.
|
|
|
|
|
Related Articles |
|
|
