Logical connective
The material conditional (also known as material implication ) is a binary operation commonly used in logic . When the conditional symbol
→
{\displaystyle \to }
is interpreted as material implication, a formula
P
→
Q
{\displaystyle P\to Q}
is true unless
P
{\displaystyle P}
is true and
Q
{\displaystyle Q}
is false.
Material implication is used in all the basic systems of classical logic as well as some nonclassical logics . It is assumed as a model of correct conditional reasoning within mathematics and serves as the basis for commands in many programming languages . However, many logics replace material implication with other operators such as the strict conditional and the variably strict conditional . Due to the paradoxes of material implication and related problems, material implication is not generally considered a viable analysis of conditional sentences in natural language .