Andersonian deontic logic, propositional quantification, and Mally (Q866501)

An Andersonian system of deontic logic is one in which the deontic operator \(O\) (for obligation) is defined by putting \(Oa\) as an abbreviation of \(e\to a\), where \(e\) is a fixed propositional constant and the arrow is a suitable implication connective. Originally, Anderson took the arrow to be strict implication in a modal logic, but later he suggested taking it as implication in a relevance logic. The paper under review gives some new results on the latter construction. In particular, it simplifies Goble's axiomatization of the purely deontic part of the system, relates this part to the very early deontic system of Ernst Mally, and provides a definition of the constant \(e\) in an enriched language using quantification over propositions. Finally, it discusses the extent to which its results carry over when the arrow is taken to be strict relevant implication in a suitable modalized relevance logic.