Script from JKR's reading/ About Snape and Dumbledore

[Neri]

No: HPFGUIDX 156820

> Nikkalmati:
> I can't agree with this analysis of the respective statements.  If
"A  is 
> true, then B is not true."
> From this statement you cannot extract "If B is true, A is not true."

Neri:
You are correct. This still leaves an alternative possibility "A is
not true and B is not true". However, here we have additional
information: JKR also tells us that B is true (that is, that
Dumbledore *is* dead). This strikes down the alternative possibility
and therefore we are left only with "A is not true and B is true"
(that is, Snape isn't good and Dumbledore is dead). 

> Nikkalmati:
> It is still possible  to say "B is true and A is also true."  

Neri:
No, it isn't. An AND statement is reversible. That is, "B is true and
A is also true" is the same as "A is true and B is also true", which
most certainly contradicts "if A is true, then B is not true".

> Nikkalmati: 
> I also believe that JKR was agreeing that everything follows from
whether  SS 
> is good or bad.  I believe this statement is prospective as in 
"everything 
> that comes later follows from whether SS is good or bad"  not " what
already 
> happened on the Tower follows from whether  SS is good or bad."

Neri:
It seems pretty clear to me that Rushdie's last sentence "so is Snape
good or bad? In our opinion, everything follows from it" is the
summary of his previous sentences: "Our theory is that Snape is in
fact, still a good guy, from which it follows that Dumbledore can't
really be dead and that the death is a ruse cooked up between
Dumbledore and Snape to put Voldemort off his guard so that when Harry
and Voldemort come face to face, Harry may have more allies than he or
Voldemort suspects". IOW, "everything" includes, among other things
(the ruse, Harry not alone) that Dumbledore can't be dead.


> Snow:
> 
> Or if Snape is good and bad
and Just Out for Himself! (Confusing but 
> doable, I have an entire theory on this one
with canon(s)) 
> I've been on both sides of the fence about Snape and this truly is 
> the only way it works.

Neri:
Hmmm. You may have noticed that I was careful not to write "Snape is
bad", since this actually doesn't follow from Rushdie's argument. But
lets hear your theory. We never have enough of Snape theories.

Neri