Skip to main content
Log in

Numerical evaluation of the validity of experimental proofs in biology

  • Published:
Synthese Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

This paper suggests a method to calculate a degree of validity for the proof of a statement which is derived from empirical statements by means of logic conclusions. The empirical statements are assumed not to be completely valid or their validity to be doubtful. The suggested rules are consistent with two-valued logic, yield decreasing validities with increasing number of applications of modus ponens and obey the law of the excluded middle. The actual calculation of validity values, the relation of the suggested method to some truth tables of multi-valued logic and to fuzzy logic are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Bibliography

  1. Lee, R. C., ‘Fuzzy Logic and the Resolution Principle’, Assoc. for Computing Machinery 19 (1972), 109.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Goguen, J. A., ‘The Logic of Inexact Concepts’, Synthese 19 (1968–69), 325.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Zadeh, L. A., ‘Fuzzy Sets’, Inform. Contr. 8, (1965), 338.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Kleene, S. C., Mathematical Logic, John Wiley & Sons, N.Y., 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Mendelson, E., Introduction to Mathematical Logic, D. Van Nostrand Co., Princeton, N.J., 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Rescher, N., Many Valued Logic, McGraw-Hill, N.Y., 1969.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Albrecht-Buehler, G. Numerical evaluation of the validity of experimental proofs in biology. Synthese 33, 283–312 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00485448

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00485448

Keywords

Navigation