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Single Idea 18771

[from 'Identity and Existence in Logic' by C. Anthony Anderson, in 5. Theory of Logic / G. Quantification / 7. Unorthodox Quantification ]

Full Idea

Ontological quantifiers might just as well range over all the entities needed for the semantics. ...The minimal way would be to just stop calling '∃' an 'existential quantifier', and always read it as 'there is...' rather than 'there exists...'.

Gist of Idea

Stop calling ∃ the 'existential' quantifier, read it as 'there is...', and range over all entities

Source

C. Anthony Anderson (Identity and Existence in Logic [2014], 2.6)

Book Reference

'Bloomsbury Companion to Philosophical Logic', ed/tr. Horsten,L/Pettigrew,R [Bloomsbury 2014], p.74


A Reaction

There is no right answer here, but it seems to be the strategy adopted by most logicians, and the majority of modern metaphysicians. They just allow abstracta, and even fictions, to 'exist', while not being fussy what it means. Big mistake!