counterfactual

  1. Adjective.  Contrary to the facts; untrue.
  2. Noun.  A claim, hypothesis, or other belief that is contrary to the facts.
  3. Noun.  (philosophy) A conditional statement in which the conditional clause is false, as "If I had arrived on time . . ."."[http://www.philosophypages.com/dy/c9.htm#couf counterfactual]" in ''A Dictionary of Philosophical Terms and Names'' © 1997-2002 Garth Kemerling.''Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary'', 1987-1996..

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.