On the negation of indicative conditionals

Abstract

A debated aspect of the analysis of indicative conditionals of the form if A then C concerns whether they have as their negation the conjunction A and not C or the conditional negation if A then not C. We argue that neither theory is adequate, but that both forms of negation can be pragmatically retrieved from a Kratzer-style analysis of conditionals in which the negation of if A then C is equivalent to the weak negation if A possibly not C. This paper lays out the relevant pragmatic hypotheses and presents the results of one experimental study intended to test those predictions.