Iterated conditionals and Modus Ponens: experimental evidence

SPEAKER

Janneke Huitink

ABSTRACT

In the philosophical literature one can find contradicting claims concerning the inference rule Modus Ponens. Some argue on the basis of counterexamples that it is invalid for iterated conditionals (McGee, Etlin), others argue that these examples do not really count (Over, Gillies). In my talk I will present the results of experiments designed to test various explanations of putative counterexamples to Modus Ponens, focusing on McGee's presidential election example.