Combining Philosophers

Ideas for David Fair, Gary Gutting and Gottlob Frege

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3 ideas

5. Theory of Logic / I. Semantics of Logic / 3. Logical Truth
Basic truths of logic are not proved, but seen as true when they are understood [Frege, by Burge]
     Full Idea: In Frege's view axioms are basic truth, and basic truths do not need proof. Basic truths can be (justifiably) recognised as true by understanding their content.
     From: report of Gottlob Frege (works [1890]) by Tyler Burge - Frege on Knowing the Foundations 1
     A reaction: This is the underpinning of the rationalism in Frege's philosophy.
5. Theory of Logic / I. Semantics of Logic / 6. Intensionalism
Frege is intensionalist about reference, as it is determined by sense; identity of objects comes first [Frege, by Jacquette]
     Full Idea: Intensionalism of reference is owing to Frege (in his otherwise extensionalist philosophy of language). Sense determines reference, so intension determines extension. An object must first satisfy identity requirements, and is thus in a set.
     From: report of Gottlob Frege (On Sense and Reference [1892]) by Dale Jacquette - Intro to 'Philosophy of Logic' §4
     A reaction: The notion that identity of objects comes first sounds right - you can't just take objects as basic - they have to be individuated in order to be discussed.
Frege moved from extensional to intensional semantics when he added the idea of 'sense' [Frege, by Sawyer]
     Full Idea: Frege moved from an extensional semantic theory (that countenances only linguistic expressions and their referents) to an intensional theory that invokes in addition a notion of sense.
     From: report of Gottlob Frege (On Sense and Reference [1892]) by Sarah Sawyer - Empty Names 2
     A reaction: This was because of Frege's famous 'puzzles', such as the morning/evening star. Quine loudly proclaimed himself an 'extensionalist', implying that he had extensional solutions for Frege's Puzzles.