Modus PonensThe statement “ According to the rule of modus ponens, we can deduce the consequent of a material implication from the material implication and the material implication is true. In fact this is precisely what modus ponens does. The question is a bit obfuscated by using the technical terms “ antecedent,” “ consequent,” and “ material implication,” but a brief examination of each of these terms should clarify the statement.
Consider the basic modus ponens statement, “ if P then Q, Q, therefore P, or in symbolic notation: P ? QPTherefore, QIn both of these statements the antecedent is P, the consequent is Q, and the material implication is P. As a result one can accurately conclude that P implies Q and P exists, it follows the Q exists.