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Single Idea 16874

[filed under theme 19. Language / D. Propositions / 5. Unity of Propositions ]

Full Idea

A sentence is generally a complex sign, so the thought expressed by it is complex too: in fact it is put together in such a way that parts of a thought correspond to parts of the sentence.

Gist of Idea

The parts of a thought map onto the parts of a sentence

Source

Gottlob Frege (Logic in Mathematics [1914], p.207)

Book Ref

Frege,Gottlob: 'Posthumous Writings', ed/tr. Hermes/Long/White etc [Blackwell 1979], p.207


A Reaction

This is the compositional view of propositions, as opposed to the holistic view.


The 20 ideas from 'Logic in Mathematics'

Frege suggested that mathematics should only accept stipulative definitions [Frege, by Gupta]
If principles are provable, they are theorems; if not, they are axioms [Frege]
Does some mathematical reasoning (such as mathematical induction) not belong to logic? [Frege]
The closest subject to logic is mathematics, which does little apart from drawing inferences [Frege]
'Theorems' are both proved, and used in proofs [Frege]
Tracing inference backwards closes in on a small set of axioms and postulates [Frege]
Logic not only proves things, but also reveals logical relations between them [Frege]
The essence of mathematics is the kernel of primitive truths on which it rests [Frege]
A truth can be an axiom in one system and not in another [Frege]
Axioms are truths which cannot be doubted, and for which no proof is needed [Frege]
To create order in mathematics we need a full system, guided by patterns of inference [Frege]
Thoughts are not subjective or psychological, because some thoughts are the same for us all [Frege]
A thought is the sense expressed by a sentence, and is what we prove [Frege]
The parts of a thought map onto the parts of a sentence [Frege]
We need definitions to cram retrievable sense into a signed receptacle [Frege]
We use signs to mark receptacles for complex senses [Frege]
A 'constructive' (as opposed to 'analytic') definition creates a new sign [Frege]
We must be clear about every premise and every law used in a proof [Frege]
A sign won't gain sense just from being used in sentences with familiar components [Frege]
Every concept must have a sharp boundary; we cannot allow an indeterminate third case [Frege]