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Premise: (∃y)(∀x)(Px v Py)

Conclusion: ~(∀y)(~Py)

I'm starting out assuming the negation, i.e., (∀y)(~Py).

But then I'm unsure how to find a contradiction within that subderivation. Here's what I've done so far, i know it's wrong because I can't do ∃E

1. (∃y)(∀x)(Px v Py)       Premise
|  2. (∀y)(~Py)            Assume
|  3. ~Pa                  UI 2
|  4. (∃y)(∀x)(Px v Py)    Reiterate
|  b|  5. (∀x)(Px v Pb)    Assume
|   |  6. Pa v Pb          UE 5
|   |  7. Pb               vE 3,6
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  • In general: for Hw problems, please show your current line of thought first.
    – emesupap
    Mar 18, 2022 at 4:25
  • You can expand on step 5 a bit more - think about what it means for Everything to be P, and how b relates to that.
    – Paul Ross
    Mar 18, 2022 at 6:10
  • 1
    Assume (∀y)(~Py). From premise you have (∀x)(Px v Pa) from which (Pa v Pa) from which Pa. But from assumption ~Pa. Mar 18, 2022 at 7:39

1 Answer 1

1
1. (∃y)(∀x)(Px v Py)       Premise
|  2. (∀y)(~Py)            Assume
|  3. ~Pa                  UI 2
|  4. (∃y)(∀x)(Px v Py)    Reiterate
|  b|  5. (∀x)(Px v Pb)    Assume
|   |  6. Pa v Pb          UE 5
|   |  7. Pb               vE 3,6

That is a disjunctive syllogism vS rather than disjunction elimination vE. Well, if you are allowed to use that rule, you may.

However, as it stands your main issue lies in not being able to derive a contradiction. It would be best to have somehow derived ~Pb, so...

Do not immediately use UE on an arbitrary variable (a). Instead, be patient and wait until you have the witness for an existential (b).

|_ 1. (∃y)(∀x)(Px v Py)        Premise
|   |_ 2. (∀y)(~Py)            Assume
|   |  3. (∃y)(∀x)(Px v Py)    Reiterate 1
|   |[b]|_ 4. (∀x)(Px v Pb)    Assume
|   |   |  5. (∀y)(~Py)        Reiterate 2
|   |   |  6. ~Pb              UE 5
|   |   |  7. Pb v Pb          UE 4
|   |   |  8. Pb               vS 6,7 
:   :   :

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