Contrapositive in conditional statements that include "probably" or possibility

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• 1 Like

  Accounts Playable Live Sage ⭐

  August 2016 3107 karma

  In short no, you can't do this. But you have to be careful what your elements are.
  
  Say you have the argument you gave:
  Probably Not A--->Probably Not B
  
  Probably B--->Probably A is not a contrapositive because it doesn't mean the same thing as the original statement; a contrapositive provides no new information--only a restatement using a different combination of words.
  
  Think of this practical example:
  If I probably (or, most likely) didn't attend class, I probably didn't get an A. That isn't the same thing as if I probably got an A, I probably attended class. This this is the case because you're conflating inductive arguments (arguments of probability) and deductive arguments.
  
  To see this further, let's use the same argument:
  Probably Not A--->Probably Not B
  
  There is a contrapositive for this:
  Not probably not B--->Not Probably not A.
  
  
• 1 Like

  Lsatbreakingnews Alum Member

  August 2016 392 karma

  Accounts playable da GOAT
• 1 Like

  nye8870 Alum ⭐

  August 2016 1749 karma

  I don't know why but this explanation reminds me of the video of that little boy at the carnival but replace probably with apparently. Hi @"Accounts Playable"
• Accounts Playable Live Sage ⭐

  August 2016 3107 karma

  @nye8870
  
  Hey! What's up?