Atomic sentences are simple declarative statements that are either true or false. They are used in logic to build more complex molecular sentences, which can be true, partially true, or false. In symbolic logic, atomic sentences are assigned letters and linked by logical operators to determine the truth of a statement as a whole.
Also called a truth bearer, an atomic sentence is a simple declarative sentence that can be either true or false. Used in logic, atomic sentences are the building blocks for more complex statements, called molecular sentences. In logic tests, atomic sentences are assigned letters to easily calculate the truth or falsehood of a more complex statement.
An atomic sentence is the most basic type of sentence in logic. Similar to a simple sentence in grammar, an atomic sentence contains a subject, a verb, and often an object. For example, “Jack cooked dinner,” “He’s smart,” and “She brought wine” are all atomic sentences.
A major goal in philosophy and logic is to determine the truth of complex statements and ideas. Atomic sentences are important because they can be completely true or completely false. Either Jack cooked dinner or he didn’t. By using atomic sentences to construct more complex sentences or, conversely, to decompose complex sentences into their basic parts, the truth of these statements can be determined through logical proofs. Logical proofs are similar to geometrical proofs in function and design.
When two or more atomic sentences are put together to form a more complex sentence, a molecular sentence is formed. For example, combining the atomic sentences, “Jack cooked dinner” and “She brought wine,” forms the molecular sentence, “Jack cooked dinner and she brought wine.” Also, molecular sentences can be formed from the negation of an atomic sentence. For example, although “He’s not intelligent” is still a simple sentence according to grammatical rules, according to logical rules, the addition of “not” makes the statement a molecular sentence. Molecular sentences can be totally true, partially true or totally false.
In symbolic logic, atomic sentences are assigned letters, often starting with “p” and continuing alphabetically. For example, the atomic sentence “Jack is preparing dinner” can be represented by a “p” while “She brought wine” is represented by the letter “q”. Linking words, such as “and,” “if,” “but,” and “not,” are given symbols to represent their function even in the larger sentence.
When sentences are broken up like this, each sentence can be worked out just like a mathematical proof. The symbols for linking words are logical operators and behave similarly to mathematical operators, such as plus and minus. By elaborating a logical proof, the truth or falsehood of a molecular statement as a whole can be ascertained, not only of the atomic statements that it contains.
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