the principle of excluded middle

The principle of excluded middle is a foundational idea in classical logic stating that for any given statement, either that statement is true or its opposite (negation) is true—there's no middle ground. For example, "It is raining" is either true or false; there’s no third option. This principle helps clarify reasoning by asserting that every proposition must have a definite truth value, simplifying decision-making and logical analysis. It underpins many logical systems but may not apply in certain contexts like quantum physics, where indeterminate states can exist simultaneously.