Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Albert Camus, Chauncey Wright and Wilfrid Hodges

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4 ideas

5. Theory of Logic / I. Semantics of Logic / 1. Semantics of Logic
A formula needs an 'interpretation' of its constants, and a 'valuation' of its variables [Hodges,W]
     Full Idea: To have a truth-value, a first-order formula needs an 'interpretation' (I) of its constants, and a 'valuation' (ν) of its variables. Something in the world is attached to the constants; objects are attached to variables.
     From: Wilfrid Hodges (First-Order Logic [2001], 1.3)
There are three different standard presentations of semantics [Hodges,W]
     Full Idea: Semantic rules can be presented in 'Tarski style', where the interpretation-plus-valuation is reduced to the same question for simpler formulas, or the 'Henkin-Hintikka style' in terms of games, or the 'Barwise-Etchemendy style' for computers.
     From: Wilfrid Hodges (First-Order Logic [2001], 1.3)
     A reaction: I haven't yet got the hang of the latter two, but I note them to map the territory.
I |= φ means that the formula φ is true in the interpretation I [Hodges,W]
     Full Idea: I |= φ means that the formula φ is true in the interpretation I.
     From: Wilfrid Hodges (First-Order Logic [2001], 1.5)
     A reaction: [There should be no space between the vertical and the two horizontals!] This contrasts with |-, which means 'is proved in'. That is a syntactic or proof-theoretic symbol, whereas |= is a semantic symbol (involving truth).
5. Theory of Logic / I. Semantics of Logic / 4. Satisfaction
|= should be read as 'is a model for' or 'satisfies' [Hodges,W]
     Full Idea: The symbol in 'I |= S' reads that if the interpretation I (about word meaning) happens to make the sentence S state something true, then I 'is a model for' S, or I 'satisfies' S.
     From: Wilfrid Hodges (Model Theory [2005], 1)
     A reaction: Unfortunately this is not the only reading of the symbol |= [no space between | and =!], so care and familiarity are needed, but this is how to read it when dealing with models. See also Idea 10477.