English

Apartness relations between propositions

Logic 2024-10-21 v3 Logic in Computer Science

Abstract

We classify all apartness relations definable in propositional logics extending intuitionistic logic using Heyting algebra semantics. We show that every Heyting algebra which contains a non-trivial apartness term satisfies the weak law of excluded middle, and every Heyting algebra which contains a tight apartness term is in fact a Boolean algebra. This answers a question of E. Rijke regarding the correct notion of apartness for propositions, and yields a short classification of apartness terms that can occur in a Heyting algebra. We also show that Martin-L\"of Type Theory is not able to construct non-trivial apartness relations between propositions.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2209.03920,
  title  = {Apartness relations between propositions},
  author = {Zoltan A. Kocsis},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2209.03920},
  year   = {2024}
}

Comments

Final revision, to appear in Mathematical Logic Quarterly; 19 pages, 1 figure

R2 v1 2026-06-28T00:58:22.601Z