APODICTIC, a logical term, applied to judgments which are necessarily true, as of mathematical conclusions. The term in Aristotelian logic is opposed to dialectic, as scientific proof to probable reasoning. Kant contrasts apodictical with problematic and assertorical judgments. The apodictic judgment has the form "S must be P." It does not really express greater certainty than the assertorical judgment ("S is P") or the problematic judgment ("S may be P"), as Kant thought, but indicates a closer connection with other beliefs already entertained by the assertor. Hence its frequent use to express a judgment inferred from other judgments that imply it.