What is the Difference Between Entailment and Presupposition?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Entailment and presupposition are both implicative relationships between propositions, but they differ in nature. Here are the key differences between the two:
- Entailment: Entailment is a logical relation in which the truth of one or more propositions guarantees the truth of another proposition. It is the relationship between sentences or propositions, where the truth of one proposition implies the truth of the other since both of them are involved. Entailments depend on the meaning of the sentence, not the meaning of the context.
- Presupposition: Presupposition is a relation in which one proposition takes for granted the truth of another proposition (or that it is uncontroversial). A presupposition is something that the speaker assumes to be the case prior to making an utterance. It implies that what is presupposed is not true, and the contrary is true.
In summary, entailment is the relationship between sentences or propositions, where the truth of one proposition implies the truth of the other, while presupposition is an assumption a speaker makes prior to making an utterance.
Comparative Table: Entailment vs Presupposition
Here is a table comparing the differences between entailment and presupposition:
| Feature | Entailment | Presupposition |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Entailment is a logical relationship between sentences or propositions, where the truth of one proposition implies the truth of another. | Presupposition is an assumption a speaker makes prior to making an utterance. |
| Nature | Entailment is a relation between sentences or propositions. | Presupposition is an assumption made by the speaker. |
| Speakers vs Sentences | Entailment is about the relationship between sentences, not speakers. | Presupposition is about the assumption made by the speaker, not the sentence itself. |
| Truth and Context | Entailments depend on the meaning of the sentence, not the context. | Presuppositions are context-dependent and can change depending on the speaker's intentions or assumptions. |
| Negation and Projection | Entailments do not survive negation, meaning if the original proposition is negated, the entailed proposition is no longer true. | Presuppositions survive negation, meaning if the original proposition is negated, the presupposed proposition is still true. |
In summary, entailment is a logical relationship between sentences or propositions, while presupposition is an assumption made by the speaker before making an utterance. Entailments depend on the meaning of the sentence, whereas presuppositions are context-dependent and change depending on the speaker's intentions or assumptions. Entailments do not survive negation, while presuppositions do.
- Assumption vs Presumption
- Assume vs Presume
- Antecedent vs Precedent
- Perception vs Assumption
- Apprehension vs Comprehension
- Hypothesis vs Assumption
- Provision vs Contingent Liability
- Prescriptivism vs Descriptivism
- Preclude vs Exclude
- Precognition vs Premonition
- Prerequisite vs Requisite
- Property vs Premises
- Conscious vs Preconscious
- Conditional vs Subjunctive
- Connotation vs Denotation
- Induction vs Deduction
- Perception vs Belief
- Conjecture vs Hypothesis
- Concept vs Conception