## Encyclopedia > Barcan formula

Article Content

# Barcan formula

The Barcan Formula states:

$\forall x \Box A \rightarrow \Box \forall x A$

In English, the statement reads, "'For all x, it is necessary that A', implies, 'It is necessary that for all x, A'". The formula tells us that if everything is quantifiable in all other worlds then it would have to be necessary that everything is quantifiable in our world as well.

The Barcan formula is used in S5[?] modal logic[?] of the Kripke System[?].

The Barcan formula has generated some controversy because some philosophers believe the formula violates the structure of the Kripke System.

Related formulas include the Converse Barcan formula[?], Buridian formula[?], and the Converse Buridian formula[?].

• Article is a stub.

All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

Search Encyclopedia
 Search over one million articles, find something about almost anything!

Featured Article
 Indus Valley culture ... use, and streets and alleys are of rigidly uniform width in virtually all Harappan sites. The main building material was brick, both fired and sun-baked, of a rigorously ...