if-thenism

noun

The doctrine that all mathematical statements are conditional in form, meaning they can be expressed in the form "p implies q", (i.e. if p then q).

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Meanings

nounif-thenism (uncountable)
  1. uncountablemathematicsThe doctrine that all mathematical statements are conditional in form, meaning they can be expressed in the form "p implies q", (i.e. if p then q).

    We now come to the difficulty that caused Russell himself to abandon 'if-thenism'.

    1968, Bertrand Russell; philosopher of the century, page 287
    2 more examples

    In this chapter we shall consider two versions of if-thenism corresponding to two different ways of understanding conditional statements.

    1979, Introduction to the philosophy of mathematics, page 11

    The final formalist position we shall consider, deductivism, or if-thenism as it is sometimes called, is suggested by earlier remarks on the game of pure logic.

    1994, Understanding the infinite, page 185

Origin

From if-then + -ism.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

if-thenism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if-thenism

MLA

“if-thenism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if-thenism. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “if-thenism,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if-thenism.

Source: if-thenism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.