Virtual Reasoning and Conditional Knowledge

An essential way of reasoning is conditional reasoning, which relies on the logical rules of conditionals, such as modus ponens, according to which, from if P is true, then Q is true, while P is true, it follows that Q is true. Our reasoning through relying on other rules of logic is also conditional. The following argument supports the previous statement: Our premises in deductive inferences are acquired through induction, which is based on observing the universe (such as relying on induction to infer that "All humans are mortal" in the deductive argument "All humans are mortal. Socrates is a human. Therefore, Socrates is mortal"). Therefore, if induction and observation are reliable for obtaining knowledge, then, and only then, our premises in deductive inferences will be true, leading us to successfully form sound deductive arguments which have true premises, such that their conclusions follow from their premises. In other words, if observation and induction are reliable for obtaining knowledge, then, and only then, we could have true generalizations which we could use in deductive inferences. And therefore, deductive inferences are conditional, such that deductive inferences are reliable for obtaining knowledge if and only if observation and induction are reliable for obtaining knowledge. All of this shows that deductive inferences (which are based on induction and observation) are conditional, exactly as observation and induction (which is based on observing particular instances) are conditional, such that observation and induction are reliable sources of knowledge if and only if we are not deceived when we observe the universe. Hence, all forms of knowledge, including knowledge based on deduction, induction and observation, are conditional.

Moreover, one dominant view among mathematicians is that mathematics is conditional, such that mathematical inferences have the form of "if so and so are true, then we could accurately conclude that that conclusion is true." For example, if space is flat, as it is in Euclidean space, then the sum of all the interior angles of a triangle is 180 degrees. And science is also conditional. For example, if the laws of nature are deterministic, then the theory of relativity, which was developed by Einstein, might turn out to be plausible, given that the theory of relativity assumes that the laws of nature are deterministic. But if the laws of nature are probabilistic, instead of being deterministic, then quantum mechanics might turn out to be plausible, given that quantum mechanics assumes that the laws of nature are probabilistic. All of this supports the conclusion that all of the different sorts of knowledge, even knowledge derived from mathematics and science, are conditional. Conditional knowledge, in this context, is knowledge obtained if certain conditions are satisfied. For example, we know that Socrates is mortal if induction and observation are reliable, such that they successfully and accurately lead us to infer that "All humans are mortal" and "Socrates is a human", which, in turn, would reliably lead us to infer that Socrates is mortal.

Since knowledge is conditional, such that we have knowledge if and only if certain conditions are satisfied, such as being satisfied in possible scenarios and possible worlds, it follows that we only have knowledge of possible scenarios and possible worlds, where those conditions are satisfied, instead of necessarily having knowledge of our actual world, given that those necessary conditions for obtaining knowledge might not be satisfied in our actual world. This leads us to end up with virtual reasoning and/or virtual inferences. Virtual reasoning aims to describe the possible worlds, where certain conditions are satisfied. And virtual reasoning provides us with knowledge of possible worlds, where certain conditions are satisfied.

All forms of reasoning, including mathematical, scientific and philosophical reasoning, which are based on deduction, induction and observation, are virtual reasoning, which provides us with the knowledge of possible worlds. This is because all forms of reasoning are conditional, such that they lead us to knowledge if and only if certain conditions are satisfied, such as being satisfied in possible worlds. Therefore, virtual reasoning is the core and foundation of any human reasoning. Virtual reasoning has the following form: in possible worlds, where certain conditions are satisfied, certain things are facts. Some examples of virtual reasoning are: in possible worlds, where nature is regular, the same causes lead to the same effects, in possible worlds, where the future resembles the past, and observation and induction are reliable for obtaining knowledge, all humans are mortal, and in possible worlds, where observation, induction and deduction (based on induction and observation) are reliable for obtaining knowledge, and all humans are mortal, while Socrates is a human, it follows that Socrates is mortal. In this sense, through relying on virtual reasoning, we would be inferring the existence of facts in possible worlds, instead of necessarily inferring the existence of facts in our actual world.

But if all the possible worlds potentially exist in our actual world, then we would be describing the potential facts of our actual world when we rely on virtual reasoning, and hence, we would be describing our actual world in a certain sense. Reality is nothing but the set of all the possible worlds, including our actual world. Therefore, we would be describing reality when we rely on virtual reasoning. And this is a virtue in itself supporting the reliance on virtual reasoning. Ultimately, the only form of knowledge, which we have, is virtual knowledge which consists of knowing the possible worlds, which, in turn, might probably lead us to know our actual world, given that our actual world is one of the possible worlds. Yet if we only have virtual knowledge of possible worlds, while we live in light of our knowledge, then we are, in fact, living in possible worlds which we mentally construct.

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