Inconsistency lemmas in algebraic logic

In this paper, the inconsistency lemmas of intuitionistic and classical propositional logic are formulated abstractly. We prove that, when a (finitary) deductive system ` is algebraized by a variety K, then ` has an inconsistency lemma—in the abstract sense—iff every algebra in K has a dually pseudo-complemented join semilattice of compact congruences. In this case, the following are shown to be equivalent: (1) ` has a classical inconsistency lemma; (2) ` has a greatest compact theory and K is filtral—i.e., semisimple with EDPC; (3) the compact congruences of any algebra in K form a Boolean lattice; (4) the compact congruences of any A ∈ K constitute a Boolean sublattice of the full congruence lattice of A. These results extend to quasivarieties and relative congruences. Except for (2), they extend even to protoalgebraic logics, with deductive filters in the role of congruences. A protoalgebraic system with a classical inconsistency lemma always has a deductiondetachment theorem (DDT), while a system with a DDT and a greatest compact theory has an inconsistency lemma. The converses are false.