Proof calculus

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In mathematical logic, a proof calculus or a proof system is built to prove statements.

Contents

Overview

A proof system includes the components: [1] [2]

A formal proof of a well-formed formula in a proof system is a set of axioms and rules of inference of proof system that infers that the well-formed formula is a theorem of proof system. [2]

Usually a given proof calculus encompasses more than a single particular formal system, since many proof calculi are under-determined and can be used for radically different logics. For example, a paradigmatic case is the sequent calculus, which can be used to express the consequence relations of both intuitionistic logic and relevance logic. Thus, loosely speaking, a proof calculus is a template or design pattern, characterized by a certain style of formal inference, that may be specialized to produce specific formal systems, namely by specifying the actual inference rules for such a system. There is no consensus among logicians on how best to define the term.

Examples of proof calculi

The most widely known proof calculi are those classical calculi that are still in widespread use:

Many other proof calculi were, or might have been, seminal, but are not widely used today.

Modern research in logic teems with rival proof calculi:

See also

Related Research Articles

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In logic and proof theory, natural deduction is a kind of proof calculus in which logical reasoning is expressed by inference rules closely related to the "natural" way of reasoning. This contrasts with Hilbert-style systems, which instead use axioms as much as possible to express the logical laws of deductive reasoning.

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References

  1. Anita Wasilewska. "General proof systems" (PDF).
  2. 1 2 3 "Definition:Proof System - ProofWiki". proofwiki.org. Retrieved 2023-10-16.