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Single Idea 18741

[filed under theme 5. Theory of Logic / E. Structures of Logic / 1. Logical Form ]

Full Idea

Logical formalization forces the investigator to make the central philosophical concepts precise. It can also show how some philosophical concepts and objects can be defined in terms of others.

Gist of Idea

Logical formalization makes concepts precise, and also shows their interrelation

Source

Horsten,L/Pettigrew,R (Mathematical Methods in Philosophy [2014], 2)

Book Ref

'Bloomsbury Companion to Philosophical Logic', ed/tr. Horsten,L/Pettigrew,R [Bloomsbury 2014], p.16


A Reaction

This is the main rationale of the highly formal and mathematical approach to such things. The downside is when you impose 'precision' on language that was never intended to be precise.


The 9 ideas from Horsten,L/Pettigrew,R

Three stages of philosophical logic: syntactic (1905-55), possible worlds (1963-85), widening (1990-) [Horsten/Pettigrew]
Logical formalization makes concepts precise, and also shows their interrelation [Horsten/Pettigrew]
If 'exist' doesn't express a property, we can hardly ask for its essence [Horsten/Pettigrew]
A Tarskian model can be seen as a possible state of affairs [Horsten/Pettigrew]
Models are sets with functions and relations, and truth built up from the components [Horsten/Pettigrew]
Possible worlds models contain sets of possible worlds; this is a large metaphysical commitment [Horsten/Pettigrew]
The 'spheres model' was added to possible worlds, to cope with counterfactuals [Horsten/Pettigrew]
Epistemic logic introduced impossible worlds [Horsten/Pettigrew]
Using possible worlds for knowledge and morality may be a step too far [Horsten/Pettigrew]