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Overview
affirming the consequent
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In conditional reasoning, arguing invalidly from a hypothetical proposition of the form If p then q that, because q therefore p. For example, given the proposition If the burglars entered by the front door, then they forced the lock, it is invalid to conclude from the fact that the burglars forced the lock that they must have entered by the front door. Compare affirming the antecedent, denying the antecedent, denying the consequent.
