Linear Logic Using Negative Connectives

In linear logic, the invertibility of a connective's right-introduction rule is equivalent to the non-invertibility of its left-introduction rule. This duality motivates the concept of polarity: a connective is termed negative if its right-introduction rule is invertible, and positive otherwise. A two-sided sequent calculus for first-order linear logic featuring only negative connectives exhibits a compelling proof theory. Proof search in such a system unfolds through alternating phases of invertible (right-introduction) rules and non-invertible (left-introduction) rules, mirroring the processes of goal-reduction and backchaining, respectively. These phases are formalized here using the framework of multifocused proofs. We analyze linear logic by dissecting it into three sublogics: L₀ (first-order intuitionistic logic with conjunction, implication, and universal quantification); L₁ (an extension of L₀ incorporating linear implication which preserves its intuitionistic nature); and L₂ (which includes multiplicative falsity ⊥ and encompasses classical linear logic). It is worth noting that the single-conclusion restriction on sequents, a constraint imposed by Gentzen, is not a prerequisite for defining intuitionistic logic proofs within this framework, as it emerges naturally by restricting the formulas to those of L₀ and L₁. While multifocused proofs of L₂ sequents can accommodate parallel applications of left-introduction rules, proofs of L₀ and L₁ sequents cannot leverage such parallel rule applications. This notion of parallelism within proofs enables a novel approach to handling disjunctions and existential quantifiers in the natural deduction system for intuitionistic logic.