more from Alfred Tarski

Single Idea 15410

[catalogued under 3. Truth / F. Semantic Truth / 1. Tarski's Truth / b. Satisfaction and truth]

Full Idea

In Tarski's theory of truth, although the notion of truth is applicable only to closed formulas, to define it we must define a more general notion of satisfaction applicable to open formulas.

Gist of Idea

Truth only applies to closed formulas, but we need satisfaction of open formulas to define it

Source

comment on Alfred Tarski (The Concept of Truth for Formalized Languages [1933]) by John P. Burgess - Philosophical Logic 1.8

Book Reference

Burgess,John P.: 'Philosophical Logic' [Princeton 2009], p.9


A Reaction

This is a helpful pointer to what is going on in the Tarski definition. It culminates in the 'satisfaction of all sequences', which presumable delivers the required closed formula.