more from this thinker     |     more from this text


Single Idea 10041

[filed under theme 2. Reason / D. Definition / 8. Impredicative Definition ]

Full Idea

Impredicative Definitions are definitions of an object by reference to the totality to which the object itself (and perhaps also things definable only in terms of that object) belong.

Gist of Idea

Impredicative Definitions refer to the totality to which the object itself belongs

Source

Kurt Gödel (Russell's Mathematical Logic [1944], n 13)

Book Ref

'Philosophy of Mathematics: readings (2nd)', ed/tr. Benacerraf/Putnam [CUP 1983], p.455


The 9 ideas with the same theme [definition that doesn't introduce a new concept]:

A defined name should not appear in the definition [Hobbes]
Predicative definitions are acceptable in mathematics if they distinguish objects, rather than creating them? [Zermelo, by Lavine]
Impredicative Definitions refer to the totality to which the object itself belongs [Gödel]
Impredicative definitions are wrong, because they change the set that is being defined? [Bostock]
'Impredictative' definitions fix a class in terms of the greater class to which it belongs [Linsky,B]
Impredicative definitions quantify over the thing being defined [George/Velleman]
Impredicative definitions are circular, but fine for picking out, rather than creating something [Potter]
An 'impredicative' definition seems circular, because it uses the term being defined [Friend]
Predicative definitions only refer to entities outside the defined collection [Horsten]