Entailment vs. Presupposition: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Harlon Moss || Published on January 12, 2024
Entailment is a logical relationship where the truth of one statement necessitates the truth of another, while presupposition implies assumptions embedded in a statement that are taken for granted.
Key Differences
Entailment in linguistics refers to a situation where one statement (the entailed) is necessarily true if another statement (the entailer) is true. Conversely, presupposition involves underlying assumptions that a speaker believes are known or accepted by the listener, and these assumptions are inherent in the statement.
In entailment, the focus is on the logical connection between two propositions. For instance, if "All birds can fly" is true, it entails "Sparrows can fly". Presupposition, however, deals with what is implicitly assumed rather than explicitly stated, like in the statement "The king of France is bald," which presupposes that there is a king of France.
Entailments are binary; they are either true or false. If the entailing statement is true, so is the entailed one. In contrast, presuppositions are not about truth values but about the speaker's beliefs or assumptions, which might not necessarily be true or can even be contextually sensitive.
Entailment is a concept closely tied to the truth conditions of statements. If a statement's truth logically leads to another statement being true, entailment is present. Presupposition, however, is more about the pragmatic aspects of language, focusing on what is assumed to be the common ground between the speaker and listener.
Entailment can be negated, which in turn negates the truth of the entailed statement. For instance, negating "All birds can fly" makes "Sparrows can fly" untrue. In presupposition, negating the original statement doesn't affect the presupposed content. For example, negating "The king of France is bald" doesn't negate the presupposition that there is a king of France.
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Comparison Chart
Nature
Logical implication
Implicit assumption
Dependence on Truth
Requires truth of another statement
Independent of the truth of the statement
Alteration by Negation
Negation changes entailment
Presupposition remains upon negation
Focus
On the content's truth conditions
On assumed background knowledge
Applicability
Binary (true or false)
Contextual and subjective
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Entailment and Presupposition Definitions
Entailment
Inference where one statement's truth logically concludes another's truth.
All roses are flowers entails This rose is a flower.
Presupposition
Underlying assumption that is accepted as a given in communication.
His brother is an artist presupposes He has a brother.
Entailment
A condition where the validity of one statement necessitates another's validity.
The dog is a poodle entails The dog is a mammal.
Presupposition
Inherent assumption embedded within a linguistic expression.
Do you want tea or coffee? presupposes You want a beverage.
Entailment
Logical necessity where one statement implies the truth of another.
She is a mother entails She has children.
Presupposition
Implicitly assumed or understood element within a statement.
Jane stopped smoking presupposes Jane used to smoke.
Entailment
Relationship where truth of one proposition guarantees truth of another.
He is a bachelor entails He is not married.
Presupposition
Background assumption implied by a statement's context.
Her wedding was beautiful presupposes She is married.
Entailment
Propositional relationship where one assertion mandates the truth of another.
It is raining entails There are clouds in the sky.
Presupposition
Unstated assumption taken for granted in a statement.
The CEO resigned presupposes There was a CEO.
Entailment
To have, impose, or require as a necessary accompaniment or consequence
The investment entailed a high risk. The proposition X is a rose entails the proposition X is a flower because all roses are flowers.
Presupposition
To believe or suppose in advance
"In passing moral judgments ... we presuppose that a man's actions, and hence also his being a good or a bad man, are in his power" (Leo Strauss).
Presupposition
To require or involve necessarily as an antecedent condition
"The term tax relief ... presupposes a conceptual metaphor.
Presupposition
An assumption made beforehand; a preliminary conjecture or speculation.
Presupposition
The act of presupposing.
Presupposition
(linguistics) An assumption or belief implicit in an utterance or other use of language.
Presupposition
The act of presupposing; an antecedent implication; presumption.
Presupposition
That which is presupposed; a previous supposition or surmise.
Presupposition
The act of presupposing; a supposition made prior to having knowledge (as for the purpose of argument)
FAQs
Is entailment about truth conditions?
Yes, entailment focuses on the truth conditions of statements.
What is presupposition?
Presupposition involves underlying assumptions in a statement taken for granted.
Does negating a statement change its presupposition?
No, negating a statement doesn't typically change its presuppositions.
What is an example of entailment?
"She is a doctor" entails "She has a medical degree."
Can a false statement entail a true one?
No, if a statement is false, it can't entail a true statement.
How is entailment different from presupposition?
Entailment is about logical implication, while presupposition is about implicit assumptions.
What is entailment in language?
Entailment is when the truth of one statement necessitates the truth of another.
Can entailment be negated?
Yes, negating the main statement negates the entailment.
Can presuppositions be false?
Yes, presuppositions can be false or questionable.
What is an example of presupposition?
"The king of France is wise" presupposes there is a king of France.
Is presupposition a matter of language or thought?
It's primarily a linguistic concept but also relates to thought processes.
Can a statement have both entailment and presupposition?
Yes, a statement can have both elements.
Are presuppositions always conscious?
No, speakers may not always be aware of their presuppositions.
Is presupposition always related to the main subject of a sentence?
Not necessarily, it can relate to any part of the sentence's context.
Can entailment exist in questions?
Typically, entailment is found in declarative statements, not questions.
Can multiple entailments come from one statement?
Yes, a single statement can entail multiple others.
Are presuppositions always explicit?
No, presuppositions are often implicit.
Does context affect presupposition?
Yes, context can significantly influence presuppositions.
Is presupposition dependent on the truth of a statement?
No, presuppositions are independent of the statement's truth.
Can entailment be about probability?
No, entailment is about certainty, not probability.
About Author
Written by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
