Single Idea 10214

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / J. Model Theory in Logic / 2. Isomorphisms]

Full Idea

No object-language theory determines its ontology by itself. The best possible is that all models are isomorphic, in which case the ontology is determined 'up to isomorphism', but only if the domain is finite, or it is stronger than first-order.

Gist of Idea

Theory ontology is never complete, but is only determined 'up to isomorphism'

Source

Stewart Shapiro (Philosophy of Mathematics [1997], 2.5)

Book Reference

Shapiro,Stewart: 'Philosophy of Mathematics:structure and ontology' [OUP 1997], p.55


A Reaction

This seems highly significant when ontological claims are being made, and is good support for Shapiro's claim that the structures matter, not the objects. There is a parallel in Tarksi's notion of truth-in-all-models. [The Skolem Paradox is the problem]