I am having trouble getting a "feel" for Fitch system proofs. I was surprised at the resolution of this problem in the Stanford Logic class using their Fitch system engine.
It seems trivially obvious that $(\phi \implies \psi) \models (\neg \psi \implies \neg \phi)$ in the sense that given the premise that "if $\phi$, then $\psi$", then, if it is the case that there is $\neg \psi$, then this implies there must be $\neg \phi$. The truth tables bear this out such that $(\phi \implies \psi) \equiv (\neg \psi \implies \neg \phi)$:
| $p$ | $q$ | $\neg q$ | $\neg p$ | $p \implies q$ | $\neg q \implies \neg p$ |
T | T| F | F | T | T |
T | F| T | F | F | F |
F | T| F | T | T | T |
F | F| T | T | T | T |
I am not quite grokking how this Fitch system proof "proves" it tho:
1) $p \implies q$ --------Premise
2) | $\neg q$ --------------Assumption
3) | | $p$ --------------Assumption
4) | | $\neg q$ ------------Reiteration, 2
5) | $p => \neg q$ -------Implication Introduction: 3, 4
6) | $\neg p$ --------------Negation Introduction: 1, 5
7) $\neg q \implies \neg p$ ----Implication Introduction: 2, 6
I understand that I am negating a contradiction to derive $\neg p$, but I am not quite understanding how the Fitch system is demonstrating this as a conclusive proof (say as compared to evaluating the truth table).
I am confused at a couple points.
- Am I using $\models$ and $\equiv$ correctly?
- Why does the second assumption increase the "level" of sub-proof?
- Is reiteration merely a staging maneuver, i.e. is the implication introduction always such that the Fitch proof translates "top to bottom" into an implications "left to right"?
- why is it necessary to reiterate 2?
i.e. why does this:
1) p => q ------Premise
2) | ~q --------Assumption
3) | | p --------Assumption
...result in this:
4) | p => p ----Implication Introduction: 3, 3
...when I select 2 & 3 for implication introduction? - I like doing long division, but Fitch feels like a rococo long division. Where truth tables might quickly become akin to doing long division with Roman numerals, is the elegance of Fitch just not as apparent when working with $2^2$ truth values?