Single Idea 13523

[catalogued under 4. Formal Logic / C. Predicate Calculus PC / 2. Tools of Predicate Calculus / e. Existential quantifier ∃]

Full Idea

Existential Generalization (or 'proof by example'): From P(t), where t is an appropriate term, we may conclude ∃xP(x).

Gist of Idea

Existential Generalization (or 'proof by example'): if we can say P(t), then we can say something is P

Source

Robert S. Wolf (A Tour through Mathematical Logic [2005], 1.3)

Book Reference

Wolf,Robert S.: 'A Tour Through Mathematical Logic' [Carus Maths Monographs 2005], p.20


A Reaction

It is amazing how often this vacuous-sounding principles finds itself being employed in discussions of ontology, but I don't quite understand why.