Chapter 1.

6, Problem 18E

Problem

What is wrong with this argument? Let S(x, y) be “ x is shorter than y.” Given the premise
it follows that S(Max, Max). Then by existential generalization it follows that
so that someone is shorter than himself.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1 of 1

Suppose refers to “x is shorter than y” …… (1)

…… (2)

It can be interpreted as “there is a person s that is shorter than Max.

It follows that …… (3)

By the existential generalization, it follows that …… (4)

This says, someone is shorter than himself.

The wrong thing that has occurred is (3) from (1) and (2).

Because, it is not necessary that the existence of ‘s’ in (2) to be the Max.