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==Work Area==
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==Work Area • Logical Cacti==
 
 
===Cactus Language for Propositional Logic===
 
 
 
The development of differential logic is greatly facilitated by having a conceptually efficient calculus in place at the level of [[boolean-valued functions]] and elementary logical propositions.  A calculus that is very efficient from both conceptual and computational standpoints is based on just two types of logical connectives, both of variable <math>k\!</math>-ary scope.  The formulas of this calculus map into a species of graph-theoretical structures called ''painted and rooted cacti'' (PARCs) that lend visual representation to their functional structure and smooth the path to efficient computation.
 
 
 
{| align="center" cellpadding="6" width="90%"
 
| The first kind of propositional expression is a parenthesized sequence of propositional expressions, written as <math>\texttt{(} e_1 \texttt{,} e_2 \texttt{,} \ldots \texttt{,} e_{k-1} \texttt{,} e_k \texttt{)}\!</math> and read to say that exactly one of the propositions <math>e_1, e_2, \ldots, e_{k-1}, e_k\!</math> is false, in other words, that their [[minimal negation]] is true.  A clause of this form maps into a PARC structure called a ''lobe'', in this case, one that is ''painted'' with the colors <math>e_1, e_2, \ldots, e_{k-1}, e_k\!</math> as shown below.
 
|}
 
 
 
{| align="center" cellpadding="10"
 
| [[Image:Cactus Graph Lobe Connective.jpg|500px]]
 
|}
 
 
 
{| align="center" cellpadding="6" width="90%"
 
| The second kind of propositional expression is a concatenated sequence of propositional expressions, written as <math>e_1\ e_2\ \ldots\ e_{k-1}\ e_k\!</math> and read to say that all of the propositions <math>e_1, e_2, \ldots, e_{k-1}, e_k\!</math> are true, in other words, that their [[logical conjunction]] is true.  A clause of this form maps into a PARC structure called a ''node'', in this case, one that is ''painted'' with the colors <math>e_1, e_2, \ldots, e_{k-1}, e_k\!</math> as shown below.
 
|}
 
 
 
{| align="center" cellpadding="10"
 
| [[Image:Cactus Graph Node Connective.jpg|500px]]
 
|}
 
 
 
All other propositional connectives can be obtained through combinations of these two forms.  Strictly speaking, the parenthesized form is sufficient to define the concatenated form, making the latter formally dispensable, but it is convenient to maintain it as a concise way of expressing more complicated combinations of parenthesized forms.  While working with expressions solely in propositional calculus, it is easiest to use plain parentheses for logical connectives.  In contexts where ordinary parentheses are needed for other purposes an alternate typeface <math>\texttt{(} \ldots \texttt{)}\!</math> may be used for logical operators.
 
 
 
Table&nbsp;1 collects a sample of basic propositional forms as expressed in terms of cactus language connectives.
 
 
 
<br>
 
 
 
{| align="center" border="1" cellpadding="8" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:90%"
 
|+ <math>\text{Table 1.}~~\text{Syntax and Semantics of a Calculus for Propositional Logic}\!</math>
 
|- style="background:#f0f0ff"
 
| <math>\text{Graph}\!</math>
 
| <math>\text{Expression}~\!</math>
 
| <math>\text{Interpretation}\!</math>
 
| <math>\text{Other Notations}\!</math>
 
|-
 
| height="100px" | [[Image:Rooted Node.jpg|20px]]
 
| <math>~\!</math>
 
| <math>\mathrm{true}\!</math>
 
| <math>1\!</math>
 
|-
 
| height="100px" | [[Image:Rooted Edge.jpg|20px]]
 
| <math>\texttt{(~)}\!</math>
 
| <math>\mathrm{false}\!</math>
 
| <math>0\!</math>
 
|-
 
| height="100px" | [[Image:Cactus A Big.jpg|20px]]
 
| <math>a\!</math>
 
| <math>a\!</math>
 
| <math>a\!</math>
 
|-
 
| height="120px" | [[Image:Cactus (A) Big.jpg|20px]]
 
| <math>\texttt{(} a \texttt{)}\!</math>
 
| <math>\mathrm{not}~ a\!</math>
 
| <math>\lnot a \quad \bar{a} \quad \tilde{a} \quad a^\prime~\!</math>
 
|-
 
| height="100px" | [[Image:Cactus ABC Big.jpg|50px]]
 
| <math>a ~ b ~ c\!</math>
 
| <math>a ~\mathrm{and}~ b ~\mathrm{and}~ c\!</math>
 
| <math>a \land b \land c\!</math>
 
|-
 
| height="160px" | [[Image:Cactus ((A)(B)(C)) Big.jpg|65px]]
 
| <math>\texttt{((} a \texttt{)(} b \texttt{)(} c \texttt{))}\!</math>
 
| <math>a ~\mathrm{or}~ b ~\mathrm{or}~ c\!</math>
 
| <math>a \lor b \lor c\!</math>
 
|-
 
| height="120px" | [[Image:Cactus (A(B)) Big.jpg|60px]]
 
| <math>\texttt{(} a \texttt{(} b \texttt{))}\!</math>
 
|
 
<math>\begin{matrix}
 
a ~\mathrm{implies}~ b
 
\\[6pt]
 
\mathrm{if}~ a ~\mathrm{then}~ b
 
\end{matrix}\!</math>
 
| <math>a \Rightarrow b\!</math>
 
|-
 
| height="120px" | [[Image:Cactus (A,B) Big ISW.jpg|65px]]
 
| <math>\texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{)}\!</math>
 
|
 
<math>\begin{matrix}
 
a ~\mathrm{not~equal~to}~ b
 
\\[6pt]
 
a ~\mathrm{exclusive~or}~ b
 
\end{matrix}\!</math>
 
|
 
<math>\begin{matrix}
 
a \neq b
 
\\[6pt]
 
a + b
 
\end{matrix}\!</math>
 
|-
 
| height="160px" | [[Image:Cactus ((A,B)) Big.jpg|65px]]
 
| <math>\texttt{((} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{))}\!</math>
 
|
 
<math>\begin{matrix}
 
a ~\mathrm{is~equal~to}~ b
 
\\[6pt]
 
a ~\mathrm{if~and~only~if}~ b
 
\end{matrix}\!</math>
 
|
 
<math>\begin{matrix}
 
a = b
 
\\[6pt]
 
a \Leftrightarrow b
 
\end{matrix}\!</math>
 
|-
 
| height="120px" | [[Image:Cactus (A,B,C) Big.jpg|65px]]
 
| <math>\texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{)}\!</math>
 
|
 
<math>\begin{matrix}
 
\mathrm{just~one~of}
 
\\
 
a, b, c
 
\\
 
\mathrm{is~false}.
 
\end{matrix}\!</math>
 
|
 
<math>\begin{matrix}
 
& \bar{a} ~ b ~ c
 
\\
 
\lor & a ~ \bar{b} ~ c
 
\\
 
\lor & a ~ b ~ \bar{c}
 
\end{matrix}\!</math>
 
|-
 
| height="160px" | [[Image:Cactus ((A),(B),(C)) Big.jpg|65px]]
 
| <math>\texttt{((} a \texttt{),(} b \texttt{),(} c \texttt{))}\!</math>
 
|
 
<math>\begin{matrix}
 
\mathrm{just~one~of}
 
\\
 
a, b, c
 
\\
 
\mathrm{is~true}.
 
\\[6pt]
 
\mathrm{partition~all}
 
\\
 
\mathrm{into}~ a, b, c.
 
\end{matrix}\!</math>
 
|
 
<math>\begin{matrix}
 
& a ~ \bar{b} ~ \bar{c}
 
\\
 
\lor & \bar{a} ~ b ~ \bar{c}
 
\\
 
\lor & \bar{a} ~ \bar{b} ~ c
 
\end{matrix}\!</math>
 
|-
 
| height="160px" | [[Image:Cactus (A,(B,C)) Big.jpg|90px]]
 
| <math>\texttt{(} a \texttt{,(} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{))}\!</math>
 
|
 
<math>\begin{matrix}
 
\mathrm{oddly~many~of}
 
\\
 
a, b, c
 
\\
 
\mathrm{are~true}.
 
\end{matrix}\!</math>
 
|
 
<p><math>a + b + c\!</math></p>
 
<br>
 
<p><math>\begin{matrix}
 
& a ~ b ~ c
 
\\
 
\lor & a ~ \bar{b} ~ \bar{c}
 
\\
 
\lor & \bar{a} ~ b ~ \bar{c}
 
\\
 
\lor & \bar{a} ~ \bar{b} ~ c
 
\end{matrix}\!</math></p>
 
|-
 
| height="160px" | [[Image:Cactus (X,(A),(B),(C)) Big.jpg|90px]]
 
| <math>\texttt{(} x \texttt{,(} a \texttt{),(} b \texttt{),(} c \texttt{))}\!</math>
 
|
 
<math>\begin{matrix}
 
\mathrm{partition}~ x
 
\\
 
\mathrm{into}~ a, b, c.
 
\\[6pt]
 
\mathrm{genus}~ x ~\mathrm{comprises}
 
\\
 
\mathrm{species}~ a, b, c.
 
\end{matrix}\!</math>
 
|
 
<math>\begin{matrix}
 
& \bar{x} ~ \bar{a} ~ \bar{b} ~ \bar{c}
 
\\
 
\lor & x ~ a ~ \bar{b} ~ \bar{c}
 
\\
 
\lor & x ~ \bar{a} ~ b ~ \bar{c}
 
\\
 
\lor & x ~ \bar{a} ~ \bar{b} ~ c
 
\end{matrix}~\!</math>
 
|}
 
 
 
<br>
 
 
 
The simplest expression for logical truth is the empty word, usually denoted by <math>\boldsymbol\varepsilon\!</math> or <math>\lambda\!</math> in formal languages, where it forms the identity element for concatenation.  To make it visible in context, it may be denoted by the equivalent expression <math>{}^{\backprime\backprime} \texttt{((~))} {}^{\prime\prime},\!</math> or, especially if operating in an algebraic context, by a simple <math>{}^{\backprime\backprime} 1 {}^{\prime\prime}.\!</math>  Also when working in an algebraic mode, the plus sign <math>{}^{\backprime\backprime} + {}^{\prime\prime}\!</math> may be used for [[exclusive disjunction]].  For example, we have the following paraphrases of algebraic expressions by means of parenthesized expressions:
 
 
 
{| align="center" cellpadding="6" style="text-align:center"
 
|
 
<math>\begin{matrix}
 
a + b
 
& = &
 
\texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{)}
 
\end{matrix}\!</math>
 
|-
 
|
 
<math>\begin{matrix}
 
a + b + c
 
& = &
 
\texttt{(} a \texttt{,(} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{))}
 
& = &
 
\texttt{((} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{),} c \texttt{)}
 
\end{matrix}\!</math>
 
|}
 
 
 
It is important to note that the last expressions are not equivalent to the 3-place parenthesis <math>\texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{)}.\!</math>
 
 
 
 
 
==Logical Cacti==
 
  
 
; Theme One Program &mdash; Logical Cacti
 
; Theme One Program &mdash; Logical Cacti

Latest revision as of 18:38, 2 December 2015

Work Area • Logical Cacti

Theme One Program — Logical Cacti
http://stderr.org/pipermail/inquiry/2005-February/thread.html#2348
http://stderr.org/pipermail/inquiry/2005-February/002360.html
http://stderr.org/pipermail/inquiry/2005-February/002361.html

Original Version

Up till now we've been working to hammer out a two-edged sword of syntax, honing the syntax of painted and rooted cacti and expressions (PARCAE), and turning it to use in taming the syntax of two-level formal languages.

But the purpose of a logical syntax is to support a logical semantics, which means, for starters, to bear interpretation as sentential signs that can denote objective propositions about some universe of objects.

One of the difficulties that we face in this discussion is that the words interpretation, meaning, semantics, and so on will have so many different meanings from one moment to the next of their use. A dedicated neologician might be able to think up distinctive names for all of the aspects of meaning and all of the approaches to them that will concern us here, but I will just have to do the best that I can with the common lot of ambiguous terms, leaving it to context and the intelligent interpreter to sort it out as much as possible.

As it happens, the language of cacti is so abstract that it can bear at least two different interpretations as logical sentences denoting logical propositions. The two interpretations that I know about are descended from the ones that Charles Sanders Peirce called the entitative and the existential interpretations of his systems of graphical logics. For our present aims, I shall briefly introduce the alternatives and then quickly move to the existential interpretation of logical cacti.

Table A illustrates the existential interpretation of cactus graphs and cactus expressions by providing English translations for a few of the most basic and commonly occurring forms.


\(\text{Table A.}~~\text{Existential Interpretation}\)
\(\text{Cactus Graph}\!\) \(\text{Cactus Expression}\!\) \(\text{Interpretation}\!\)
Cactus Node Big Fat.jpg \({}^{\backprime\backprime}\texttt{~}{}^{\prime\prime}\) \(\operatorname{true}.\)
Cactus Spike Big Fat.jpg \(\texttt{(~)}\) \(\operatorname{false}.\)
Cactus A Big.jpg \(a\!\) \(a.\!\)
Cactus (A) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{)}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \tilde{a} \\[2pt] a^\prime \\[2pt] \lnot a \\[2pt] \operatorname{not}~ a. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ABC Big.jpg \(a~b~c\)

\(\begin{matrix} a \land b \land c \\[6pt] a ~\operatorname{and}~ b ~\operatorname{and}~ c. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ((A)(B)(C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{)(} b \texttt{)(} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a \lor b \lor c \\[6pt] a ~\operatorname{or}~ b ~\operatorname{or}~ c. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (A(B)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{(} b \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a \Rightarrow b \\[2pt] a ~\operatorname{implies}~ b. \\[2pt] \operatorname{if}~ a ~\operatorname{then}~ b. \\[2pt] \operatorname{not}~ a ~\operatorname{without}~ b. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (A,B) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{)}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a + b \\[2pt] a \neq b \\[2pt] a ~\operatorname{exclusive-or}~ b. \\[2pt] a ~\operatorname{not~equal~to}~ b. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ((A,B)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a = b \\[2pt] a \iff b \\[2pt] a ~\operatorname{equals}~ b. \\[2pt] a ~\operatorname{if~and~only~if}~ b. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (A,B,C) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{)}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{just~one~of} \\ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~false}. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ((A),(B),(C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{),(} b \texttt{),(} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{just~one~of} \\ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~true}. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (A,(B),(C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,(} b \texttt{),(} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{genus}~ a ~\operatorname{of~species}~ b, c. \\[6pt] \operatorname{partition}~ a ~\operatorname{into}~ b, c. \\[6pt] \operatorname{pie}~ a ~\operatorname{of~slices}~ b, c. \end{matrix}\)


Table B illustrates the entitative interpretation of cactus graphs and cactus expressions by providing English translations for a few of the most basic and commonly occurring forms.


\(\text{Table B.}~~\text{Entitative Interpretation}\)
\(\text{Cactus Graph}\!\) \(\text{Cactus Expression}\!\) \(\text{Interpretation}\!\)
Cactus Node Big Fat.jpg \({}^{\backprime\backprime}\texttt{~}{}^{\prime\prime}\) \(\operatorname{false}.\)
Cactus Spike Big Fat.jpg \(\texttt{(~)}\) \(\operatorname{true}.\)
Cactus A Big.jpg \(a\!\) \(a.\!\)
Cactus (A) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{)}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \tilde{a} \\[2pt] a^\prime \\[2pt] \lnot a \\[2pt] \operatorname{not}~ a. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ABC Big.jpg \(a~b~c\)

\(\begin{matrix} a \lor b \lor c \\[6pt] a ~\operatorname{or}~ b ~\operatorname{or}~ c. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ((A)(B)(C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{)(} b \texttt{)(} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a \land b \land c \\[6pt] a ~\operatorname{and}~ b ~\operatorname{and}~ c. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (A)B Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{)} b\)

\(\begin{matrix} a \Rightarrow b \\[2pt] a ~\operatorname{implies}~ b. \\[2pt] \operatorname{if}~ a ~\operatorname{then}~ b. \\[2pt] \operatorname{not}~ a, ~\operatorname{or}~ b. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (A,B) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{)}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a = b \\[2pt] a \iff b \\[2pt] a ~\operatorname{equals}~ b. \\[2pt] a ~\operatorname{if~and~only~if}~ b. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ((A,B)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a + b \\[2pt] a \neq b \\[2pt] a ~\operatorname{exclusive-or}~ b. \\[2pt] a ~\operatorname{not~equal~to}~ b. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (A,B,C) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{)}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{not~just~one~of} \\ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~true}. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ((A,B,C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{just~one~of} \\ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~true}. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (((A),B,C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(((} a \texttt{),} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{genus}~ a ~\operatorname{of~species}~ b, c. \\[6pt] \operatorname{partition}~ a ~\operatorname{into}~ b, c. \\[6pt] \operatorname{pie}~ a ~\operatorname{of~slices}~ b, c. \end{matrix}\)


For the time being, the main things to take away from Tables A and B are the ideas that the compositional structure of cactus graphs and expressions can be articulated in terms of two different kinds of connective operations, and that there are two distinct ways of mapping this compositional structure into the compositional structure of propositional sentences, say, in English:

1. The node connective joins a number of component cacti \(C_1, \ldots, C_k\) at a node:
 
    C_1 ... C_k
         @
2. The lobe connective joins a number of component cacti \(C_1, \ldots, C_k\) to a lobe:
 
    C_1 C_2   C_k
     o---o-...-o
      \       /
       \     /
        \   /
         \ /
          @

Table 15 summarizes the existential and entitative interpretations of the primitive cactus structures, in effect, the graphical constants and connectives.

Table 15.  Existential & Entitative Interpretations of Cactus Structures
o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o
|  Cactus Graph   |  Cactus String  |  Existential    |   Entitative    |
|                 |                 | Interpretation  | Interpretation  |
o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o
|                 |                 |                 |                 |
|        @        |       " "       |      true       |      false      |
|                 |                 |                 |                 |
o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o
|                 |                 |                 |                 |
|        o        |                 |                 |                 |
|        |        |                 |                 |                 |
|        @        |       ( )       |      false      |      true       |
|                 |                 |                 |                 |
o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o
|                 |                 |                 |                 |
|   C_1 ... C_k   |                 |                 |                 |
|        @        |   C_1 ... C_k   | C_1 & ... & C_k | C_1 v ... v C_k |
|                 |                 |                 |                 |
o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o
|                 |                 |                 |                 |
|  C_1 C_2   C_k  |                 |  Just one       |  Not just one   |
|   o---o-...-o   |                 |                 |                 |
|    \       /    |                 |  of the C_j,    |  of the C_j,    |
|     \     /     |                 |                 |                 |
|      \   /      |                 |  j = 1 to k,    |  j = 1 to k,    |
|       \ /       |                 |                 |                 |
|        @        | (C_1, ..., C_k) |  is not true.   |  is true.       |
|                 |                 |                 |                 |
o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o-----------------o

It is possible to specify abstract rules of equivalence (AROEs) between cacti, rules for transforming one cactus into another that are formal in the sense of being indifferent to the above choices for logical or semantic interpretations, and that partition the set of cacti into formal equivalence classes.

A reduction is an equivalence transformation that is applied in the direction of decreasing graphical complexity.

A basic reduction is a reduction that applies to one of the two families of basic connectives.

Table 16 schematizes the two types of basic reductions in a purely formal, interpretation-independent fashion.

Table 16.  Basic Reductions
o---------------------------------------o
|                                       |
|    C_1 ... C_k                        |
|         @         =         @         |
|                                       |
|    if and only if                     |
|                                       |
|    C_j = @ for all j = 1 to k         |
|                                       |
o---------------------------------------o
|                                       |
|   C_1 C_2   C_k                       |
|    o---o-...-o                        |
|     \       /                         |
|      \     /                          |
|       \   /                           |
|        \ /                            |
|         @         =         @         |
|                                       |
|   if and only if                      |
|                                       |
|         o                             |
|         |                             |
|   C_j = @ for exactly one j in [1, k] |
|                                       |
o---------------------------------------o

The careful reader will have noticed that we have begun to use graphical paints like "a", "b", "c" and schematic proxies like "C_1", "C_j", "C_k" in a variety of novel and unjustified ways.

The careful writer would have already introduced a whole bevy of technical concepts and proved a whole crew of formal theorems to justify their use before contemplating this stage of development, but I have been hurrying to proceed with the informal exposition, and this expedition must leave steps to the reader's imagination.

Of course I mean the active imagination. So let me assist the prospective exercise with a few hints of what it would take to guarantee that these practices make sense.

Partial Rewrites

Table 13 illustrates the existential interpretation of cactus graphs and cactus expressions by providing English translations for a few of the most basic and commonly occurring forms.

Even though I do most of my thinking in the existential interpretation, I will continue to speak of these forms as logical graphs, because I think it is an important fact about them that the formal validity of the axioms and theorems is not dependent on the choice between the entitative and the existential interpretations.

The first extension is the reflective extension of logical graphs (RefLog). It is obtained by generalizing the negation operator "\(\texttt{(~)}\)" in a certain way, calling "\(\texttt{(~)}\)" the controlled, moderated, or reflective negation operator of order 1, then adding another such operator for each finite \(k = 2, 3, \ldots .\)

In sum, these operators are symbolized by bracketed argument lists as follows: "\(\texttt{(~)}\)", "\(\texttt{(~,~)}\)", "\(\texttt{(~,~,~)}\)", …, where the number of slots is the order of the reflective negation operator in question.

The cactus graph and the cactus expression shown here are both described as a spike.

o---------------------------------------o
|                                       |
|                   o                   |
|                   |                   |
|                   @                   |
|                                       |
o---------------------------------------o
|                  ( )                  |
o---------------------------------------o

The rule of reduction for a lobe is:

o---------------------------------------o
|                                       |
|  x_1   x_2   ...   x_k                |
|   o-----o--- ... ---o                 |
|    \               /                  |
|     \             /                   |
|      \           /                    |
|       \         /                     |
|        \       /                      |
|         \     /                       |
|          \   /                        |
|           \ /                         |
|            @      =      @            |
|                                       |
o---------------------------------------o

if and only if exactly one of the \(x_j\!\) is a spike.

In Ref Log, an expression of the form \(\texttt{((}~ e_1 ~\texttt{),(}~ e_2 ~\texttt{),(}~ \ldots ~\texttt{),(}~ e_k ~\texttt{))}\) expresses the fact that exactly one of the \(e_j\!\) is true. Expressions of this form are called universal partition expressions, and they parse into a type of graph called a painted and rooted cactus (PARC):

o---------------------------------------o
|                                       |
|  e_1   e_2   ...   e_k                |
|   o     o           o                 |
|   |     |           |                 |
|   o-----o--- ... ---o                 |
|    \               /                  |
|     \             /                   |
|      \           /                    |
|       \         /                     |
|        \       /                      |
|         \     /                       |
|          \   /                        |
|           \ /                         |
|            @                          |
|                                       |
o---------------------------------------o
o---------------------------------------o
|                                       |
| ( x1, x2, ..., xk )  =  [blank]       |
|                                       |
| iff                                   |
|                                       |
| Just one of the arguments             |
| x1, x2, ..., xk  =  ()                |
|                                       |
o---------------------------------------o

The interpretation of these operators, read as assertions about the values of their listed arguments, is as follows:

Existential Interpretation: Just one of the k argument is false.
Entitative Interpretation: Not just one of the k arguments is true.

Tables

\(\text{Table 1.}~~\text{Syntax and Semantics of a Calculus for Propositional Logic}\)
\(\text{Graph}\!\) \(\text{Expression}\!\) \(\text{Interpretation}\!\) \(\text{Other Notations}\!\)
Cactus Node Big Fat.jpg \(~\) \(\operatorname{true}\) \(1\!\)
Cactus Spike Big Fat.jpg \(\texttt{(~)}\) \(\operatorname{false}\) \(0\!\)
Cactus A Big.jpg \(a\!\) \(a\!\) \(a\!\)
Cactus (A) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{)}\) \(\operatorname{not}~ a\) \(\lnot a \quad \bar{a} \quad \tilde{a} \quad a^\prime\)
Cactus ABC Big.jpg \(a ~ b ~ c\) \(a ~\operatorname{and}~ b ~\operatorname{and}~ c\) \(a \land b \land c\)
Cactus ((A)(B)(C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{)(} b \texttt{)(} c \texttt{))}\) \(a ~\operatorname{or}~ b ~\operatorname{or}~ c\) \(a \lor b \lor c\)
Cactus (A(B)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{(} b \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a ~\operatorname{implies}~ b \\[6pt] \operatorname{if}~ a ~\operatorname{then}~ b \end{matrix}\)

\(a \Rightarrow b\)
Cactus (A,B) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{)}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a ~\operatorname{not~equal~to}~ b \\[6pt] a ~\operatorname{exclusive~or}~ b \end{matrix}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a \neq b \\[6pt] a + b \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ((A,B)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a ~\operatorname{is~equal~to}~ b \\[6pt] a ~\operatorname{if~and~only~if}~ b \end{matrix}\)

\(\begin{matrix} a = b \\[6pt] a \Leftrightarrow b \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (A,B,C) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{)}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{just~one~of} \\ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~false}. \end{matrix}\)

\(\begin{matrix} & \bar{a} ~ b ~ c \\ \lor & a ~ \bar{b} ~ c \\ \lor & a ~ b ~ \bar{c} \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ((A),(B),(C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{),(} b \texttt{),(} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{just~one~of} \\ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~true}. \\[6pt] \operatorname{partition~all} \\ \operatorname{into}~ a, b, c. \end{matrix}\)

\(\begin{matrix} & a ~ \bar{b} ~ \bar{c} \\ \lor & \bar{a} ~ b ~ \bar{c} \\ \lor & \bar{a} ~ \bar{b} ~ c \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (A,(B,C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,(} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{oddly~many~of} \\ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{are~true}. \end{matrix}\)

\(a + b + c\!\)


\(\begin{matrix} & a ~ b ~ c \\ \lor & a ~ \bar{b} ~ \bar{c} \\ \lor & \bar{a} ~ b ~ \bar{c} \\ \lor & \bar{a} ~ \bar{b} ~ c \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (X,(A),(B),(C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} x \texttt{,(} a \texttt{),(} b \texttt{),(} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{partition}~ x \\ \operatorname{into}~ a, b, c. \\[6pt] \operatorname{genus}~ x ~\operatorname{comprises} \\ \operatorname{species}~ a, b, c. \end{matrix}\)

\(\begin{matrix} & \bar{x} ~ \bar{a} ~ \bar{b} ~ \bar{c} \\ \lor & x ~ a ~ \bar{b} ~ \bar{c} \\ \lor & x ~ \bar{a} ~ b ~ \bar{c} \\ \lor & x ~ \bar{a} ~ \bar{b} ~ c \end{matrix}\)


\(\text{Table C.}~~\text{Dualing Interpretations}\)
\(\text{Graph}\!\) \(\text{String}\!\) \(\text{Existential}\!\) \(\text{Entitative}\!\)
Cactus Node Big Fat.jpg \({}^{\backprime\backprime}\texttt{~}{}^{\prime\prime}\) \(\operatorname{true}.\) \(\operatorname{false}.\)
Cactus Spike Big Fat.jpg \(\texttt{(~)}\) \(\operatorname{false}.\) \(\operatorname{true}.\)
Cactus A Big.jpg \(a\!\) \(a.\!\) \(a.\!\)
Cactus (A) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{)}\) \(\lnot a\) \(\lnot a\)
Cactus ABC Big.jpg \(a~b~c\) \(a \land b \land c\) \(a \lor b \lor c\)
Cactus ((A)(B)(C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{)(} b \texttt{)(} c \texttt{))}\) \(a \lor b \lor c\) \(a \land b \land c\)
Cactus (A(B)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{(} b \texttt{))}\) \(a \Rightarrow b\)  
Cactus (A)B Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{)} b\)   \(a \Rightarrow b\)
Cactus (A,B) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{)}\) \(a \neq b\) \(a = b\!\)
Cactus ((A,B)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{))}\) \(a = b\!\) \(a \neq b\!\)
Cactus (A,B,C) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{)}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{just~one} \\ \operatorname{of}~ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~false}. \end{matrix}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{not~just~one} \\ \operatorname{of}~ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~true}. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ((A),(B),(C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{),(} b \texttt{),(} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{just~one} \\ \operatorname{of}~ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~true}. \end{matrix}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{not~just~one} \\ \operatorname{of}~ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~false}. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus ((A,B,C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{((} a \texttt{,} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{not~just~one} \\ \operatorname{of}~ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~false}. \end{matrix}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{just~one} \\ \operatorname{of}~ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~true}. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (((A),(B),(C))) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(((} a \texttt{),(} b \texttt{),(} c \texttt{)))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{not~just~one} \\ \operatorname{of}~ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~true}. \end{matrix}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{just~one} \\ \operatorname{of}~ a, b, c \\ \operatorname{is~false}. \end{matrix}\)

Cactus (A,(B),(C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(} a \texttt{,(} b \texttt{),(} c \texttt{))}\)

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{partition}~ a \\ \operatorname{into}~ b, c. \end{matrix}\)

 
Cactus (((A),B,C)) Big.jpg \(\texttt{(((} a \texttt{),} b \texttt{,} c \texttt{))}\)  

\(\begin{matrix} \operatorname{partition}~ a \\ \operatorname{into}~ b, c. \end{matrix}\)