What is the logic of inference? (Q2426732)

\noindent An inferential structure \(I\) is an ordered pair \(\langle L, \vdash \rangle\) where \(L = \langle S, \langle o_1, \ldots, o_n\rangle \rangle\) is a propositional language with operators \(o_i\) and \(\vdash\) a relation between finite sequences of elements of \(S\) and elements of \(S\). \(A, B, C, \ldots\) denote elements of \(S\), called statements, and \(X, Y, Z, \dots\) denote finite sequences of elements of \(S\). The authors prove Theorem 6.1: \(A\) is provable from \(X\) by means of the collection \(R\) of rules iff \(X \vdash A\) is derivable from \(R\) by means of Gentzen's structural metarules (REFlexivity), (EXTension), (CONtraction), (PERMutation) and (CUT). Three `inferentially native' logical operators are introduced which explicate inferential properties and the author shows that the axiomatization of these operators leads to the system of intuitionistic logic. This justifies to call intuitionistic logic \textit{the} (natural) logic of inference, assuming that the logic complies with Gentzen's structural rules. However, as explained in this article, classical logic may well be seen as \textit{the} logic of \textit{multi}-conclusion inference, again assuming that it complies with Gentzen's structural rules.