Claudio Pizzi

The paper introduces a contingential language extended with a propositional constant τ axiomatized in a system named KΔτ , which receives a semantical analysis via relational models. A definition of the necessity operator in terms of Δ and τ allows proving (i) that KΔτ is equivalent to a modal system named K□τ (ii) that both KΔτ and K□τ are tableau-decidable and complete with respect to the defined relational semantics (iii) that the modal τ -free fragment of KΔτ is exactly the deontic system KD. In §4 it is proved that the modal τ -free fragment of a system KΔτw weaker than KΔτ is exactly the minimal normal system K.

The aim of the paper is to outline a treatment of cotenability inspired by a perspective which had strong roots in ancient logic since Chrysippus and was partially recovered in the XX Century by E. Nelson and the exponents of so-called connexive logic. Consequential implication is a modal reinterpretation of connexive implication which permits a simple reconstruction of Aristotle's square of conditionals, in which proper place is given not only to ordinary cotenability between A and B, represented by ¬, but to its “secondary” variant ¬ . After showing that logics of strict implication, of Stalnaker-Lewis conditionals and of relevant implication do not satisfy the intuitive properties required for cotenability , it is proved that such conditions are satisfied by consequential cotenability and by its secondary variant . The notions of strong cotenability and of bilateral cotenability are then introduced: the latter stands to standard cotenabilty as contingency stands to possibility, and in Section 9 it is shown to be a useful tool in the reconstruction of Boethius' theory of adjuncta