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Single Idea 13450

[filed under theme 5. Theory of Logic / G. Quantification / 2. Domain of Quantification ]

Full Idea

There are doubts about whether absolute generality is possible, if there are certain concepts which are indefinitely extensible, lacking definite extensions, and yielding an ever more inclusive hierarchy. Sets and ordinals are paradigm cases.

Gist of Idea

Absolute generality is impossible, if there are indefinitely extensible concepts like sets and ordinals

Source

Rayo,A/Uzquiasno,G (Introduction to 'Absolute Generality' [2006], 1.2.1)

Book Ref

'Absolute Generality', ed/tr. Rayo,A/Uzquiano,G [OUP 2006], p.4


The 16 ideas with the same theme [specifying the objects from which quantifiers select]:

De Morgan introduced a 'universe of discourse', to replace Boole's universe of 'all things' [De Morgan, by Walicki]
For Frege the variable ranges over all objects [Frege, by Tait]
Frege's domain for variables is all objects, but modern interpretations first fix the domain [Dummett on Frege]
Frege always, and fatally, neglected the domain of quantification [Dummett on Frege]
With 'extensive connection', boundary elements are not included in domains [Whitehead, by Varzi]
Reference to a totality need not refer to a conjunction of all its elements [Gödel]
Quantifiers are needed to refer to infinitely many objects [Marcus (Barcan)]
Substitutional semantics has no domain of objects, but place-markers for substitutions [Marcus (Barcan)]
Davidson controversially proposed to quantify over events [Davidson, by Engelbretsen]
The main quantifiers extend 'and' and 'or' to infinite domains [Tharp]
If we allow empty domains, we must allow empty names [Bostock]
'∀x x=x' only means 'everything is identical to itself' if the range of 'everything' is fixed [Boolos]
Big logic has one fixed domain, but standard logic has a domain for each interpretation [Mayberry]
Quantifiers for domains and for inference come apart if there are no entities [Hofweber]
We could have unrestricted quantification without having an all-inclusive domain [Rayo/Uzquiano]
Absolute generality is impossible, if there are indefinitely extensible concepts like sets and ordinals [Rayo/Uzquiano]