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Logic and Logical Philosophy

A Compositional Semantics for ‘Even If’ Conditionals
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A Compositional Semantics for ‘Even If’ Conditionals

Authors

  • Mathieu Vidal Grenoble Alpes University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12775/LLP.2016.031

Keywords

Conditional logic, even, if, even if

Abstract

This paper presents the first possible world semantics for concessive conditionals (i.e., even if A, C conditionals) constructed in a compositional way. First, the meaning of if is formalized through a semantics that builds on the proposal given by Stalnaker [1968]. A major difference from Stalnaker’s approach is that irrelevant conditionals (i.e., conditionals where the antecedent and the consequent have no connection) are false in this new setting. Second, the meaning of even is analyzed through a formal semantics based on the notion of scale. This analysis overcomes the problems arising in standard approaches, in which even is analyzed with the help of pragmatic presuppositions. Finally, the two particles are combined in order to provide a formal analysis of even if. This theory predicts the major phenomena concerning the behavior of concessive conditionals and without any call to pragmatic explanations. More generally, this approach creates the possibility of a compositional analysis of other conditionals such as if then or only if forms.

Author Biography

Mathieu Vidal, Grenoble Alpes University

Departement of Philosophy

References

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Logic and Logical Philosophy

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Published

2016-11-30

How to Cite

1.
VIDAL, Mathieu. A Compositional Semantics for ‘Even If’ Conditionals. Logic and Logical Philosophy. Online. 30 November 2016. Vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 237-276. [Accessed 1 July 2025]. DOI 10.12775/LLP.2016.031.
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