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6.1203
In order to recognize a tautology as such, we can, in cases in which no sign of generality occurs in the tautology, make use of the following intuitive method: I write instead of "p", "q", "r, etc., "TpF", "TqF", "TrF", etc. The truth-combinations I express by brackets, e.g.:
diagram of p/q=F/F F/T T/F T/T

and the co-ordination of the truth or falsity of the whole proposition with the truth-combinations of the truth-arguments by lines in the following way:
diagram of p/q=(F/F F/T T/T)->T (T/F)->F

This sign, for example, would therefore present the proposition p  HOOK  q. Now I will proceed to inquire whether such a proposition as ~(p . ~p) (The Law of Contradiction) is a tautology. The form "~ xi " is written in our notation

diagram of xi=(F)->T, (T)->F

the form " xi  .  eta " thus :--
diagram of xi/eta=(F/F F/T T/F)->F (T/T)->T

Hence the proposition ~(p . ~q) runs thus :--

diagram of p/q =(F/F F/T T/T)->T, T/F->F

If here we put "p" instead of "q" and examine the combination of the outermost T and F with the innermost, it is seen that the truth of the whole proposition is co-ordinated with all the truth-combinations of its argument, its falsity with none of the truth-combinations.


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