The Evidential Conditional

This paper outlines an account of conditionals, the evidential account, which rests on the idea that a conditional is true just in case its antecedent supports its consequent. As we will show, the evidential account exhibits some distinctive logical features that deserve careful consideration. On the one hand, it departs from the material reading of 'if then' exactly in the way we would like it to depart from that reading. On the other, it significantly differs from the non-material accounts which hinge on the Ramsey Test, advocated by Adams, Stalnaker, Lewis, and others.

Automated summary

This paper presents an account of conditionals, the evidential account, which differs from both material and non-material accounts. The evidential account is based on the idea that a conditional is true when the antecedent supports the consequent, exhibiting distinctive logical features.