Consequent
Encyclopedia
A consequent is the second half of a hypothetical proposition
Proposition
In logic and philosophy, the term proposition refers to either the "content" or "meaning" of a meaningful declarative sentence or the pattern of symbols, marks, or sounds that make up a meaningful declarative sentence...

. In the standard form of such a proposition, it is the part that follows "then".

Examples:
  • If P, then Q.


Q is the consequent of this hypothetical proposition.
  • If X is a mammal, then X is an animal.


Here, "X is an animal" is the consequent.
  • If computers can think, then they are alive.


"They are alive" is the consequent.

The consequent in a hypothetical proposition is not necessarily a consequence of the antecedent
Antecedent (logic)
An antecedent is the first half of a hypothetical proposition.Examples:* If P, then Q.This is a nonlogical formulation of a hypothetical proposition...

.
  • If monkeys are purple, then fish speak Klingon
    Klingon
    Klingons are a fictional warrior race in the Star Trek universe.Klingons are recurring villains in the 1960s television show Star Trek: The Original Series, and have appeared in all five spin-off series and eight feature films...

    .


"Fish speak Klingon" is the consequent here, but intuitively is not a consequence of (nor does it have anything anything to do with) the claim made in the antecedent that "monkeys are purple".
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