Predicate Logic
Existential Generalization
where c is an element of the universe.
Restrictions:
x must not appear free in P(c).
Explanation:
What this rule says is that if there is some element c in the universe
that has the property P, then we can say that there exists something
in the universe that has the property P.
Example:
For example the statement "if everyone is happy then someone is happy"
can be proven correct using this existential generalization rule.
To prove it, first let the universe be the set of all people and let
H(x) mean that x is happy.
Then the argument is
x
H(x)
x
H(x)
The proof is
1. x H(x) | Hypothesis |
2. H(c) | Universal instantiation |
4. x H(x) | Existential generalization. |