Sentential Logic

Disjunctive Syllogism

Disjunctive syllogism is a deductively valid form: given a disjunction and the negation of one disjunct, infer the other.

P1) P or Q.    (P ∨ Q)
P2) Not P.     (¬P)
∴
C)  Q.

Example

1. The cookie was eaten by Alice or Bob.
2. Alice didn't eat it.
∴ 3. Bob ate it.

Inclusive "or"

The “or” is inclusive in classical logic (“P or Q or both”). Even so, eliminating one option still leaves the other true.