Destructive Dilemma

Destructive dilemma is a logical rule of inference that says if P implies Q, R implies S, and ~Q or ~S is true, then ~P or ~R is true as well. It is the negative version of a constructive dilemma. Essentially, the destructive dilemma passes the negative statements of the disjunction through two conditional statements. For example, if the statements

“If I am running, I am happy.”

and

“If I am sleeping, I am dreaming.”

and

“I am not happy or I am not dreaming.”

are true, then it must also be true that I am not running or I am not sleeping.

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