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Ideas for 'The Evolution of Modern Metaphysics', 'Introduction to the Theory of Logic' and 'On What There Is'

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16 ideas

5. Theory of Logic / A. Overview of Logic / 5. First-Order Logic
A first-order 'sentence' is a formula with no free variables [Zalabardo]
     Full Idea: A formula of a first-order language is a 'sentence' just in case it has no free variables.
     From: José L. Zalabardo (Introduction to the Theory of Logic [2000], §3.2)
5. Theory of Logic / B. Logical Consequence / 4. Semantic Consequence |=
Γ |= φ for sentences if φ is true when all of Γ is true [Zalabardo]
     Full Idea: A propositional logic sentence is a 'logical consequence' of a set of sentences (written Γ |= φ) if for every admissible truth-assignment all the sentences in the set Γ are true, then φ is true.
     From: José L. Zalabardo (Introduction to the Theory of Logic [2000], §2.4)
     A reaction: The definition is similar for predicate logic.
Γ |= φ if φ is true when all of Γ is true, for all structures and interpretations [Zalabardo]
     Full Idea: A formula is the 'logical consequence' of a set of formulas (Γ |= φ) if for every structure in the language and every variable interpretation of the structure, if all the formulas within the set are true and the formula itself is true.
     From: José L. Zalabardo (Introduction to the Theory of Logic [2000], §3.5)
5. Theory of Logic / E. Structures of Logic / 2. Logical Connectives / b. Basic connectives
Propositional logic just needs ¬, and one of ∧, ∨ and → [Zalabardo]
     Full Idea: In propositional logic, any set containing ¬ and at least one of ∧, ∨ and → is expressively complete.
     From: José L. Zalabardo (Introduction to the Theory of Logic [2000], §2.8)
5. Theory of Logic / E. Structures of Logic / 4. Variables in Logic
We study bound variables not to know reality, but to know what reality language asserts [Quine]
     Full Idea: We look to bound variables in connection with ontology not in order to know what there is, but in order to know what a given remark or doctrine, ours or someone else's, says there is.
     From: Willard Quine (On What There Is [1948], p.15)
5. Theory of Logic / F. Referring in Logic / 1. Naming / f. Names eliminated
Canonical notation needs quantification, variables and predicates, but not names [Quine, by Orenstein]
     Full Idea: Quine says that names need not be part of one's canonical notation; in fact, whatever scientific purposes are accomplished by names can be carried out just as well by the devices of quantification, variables and predicates.
     From: report of Willard Quine (On What There Is [1948]) by Alex Orenstein - W.V. Quine Ch.2
     A reaction: This is part of Quine's analysis of where the ontological commitment of a language is to be found. Kripke's notion that a name baptises an item comes as a challenge to this view.
Quine extended Russell's defining away of definite descriptions, to also define away names [Quine, by Orenstein]
     Full Idea: Quine extended Russell's theory for defining away definite descriptions, so that he could also define away names.
     From: report of Willard Quine (On What There Is [1948]) by Alex Orenstein - W.V. Quine Ch.2
     A reaction: Quine also gets rid of universals and properties, so his ontology is squeezed from both the semantic and the metaphysical directions. Quine seems to be the key figure in modern ontology. If you want to expand it (E.J. Lowe), justify yourself to Quine.
5. Theory of Logic / F. Referring in Logic / 2. Descriptions / c. Theory of definite descriptions
Names can be converted to descriptions, and Russell showed how to eliminate those [Quine]
     Full Idea: I have shown that names can be converted to descriptions, and Russell has shown that descriptions can be eliminated.
     From: Willard Quine (On What There Is [1948], p.12)
5. Theory of Logic / I. Semantics of Logic / 1. Semantics of Logic
The semantics shows how truth values depend on instantiations of properties and relations [Zalabardo]
     Full Idea: The semantic pattern of a first-order language is the ways in which truth values depend on which individuals instantiate the properties and relations which figure in them. ..So we pair a truth value with each combination of individuals, sets etc.
     From: José L. Zalabardo (Introduction to the Theory of Logic [2000], §3.3)
     A reaction: So truth reduces to a combination of 'instantiations', which is rather like 'satisfaction'.
We can do semantics by looking at given propositions, or by building new ones [Zalabardo]
     Full Idea: We can look at semantics from the point of view of how truth values are determined by instantiations of properties and relations, or by asking how we can build, using the resources of the language, a proposition corresponding to a given semantic pattern.
     From: José L. Zalabardo (Introduction to the Theory of Logic [2000], §3.6)
     A reaction: The second version of semantics is model theory.
5. Theory of Logic / I. Semantics of Logic / 2. Formal Truth
We make a truth assignment to T and F, which may be true and false, but merely differ from one another [Zalabardo]
     Full Idea: A truth assignment is a function from propositions to the set {T,F}. We will think of T and F as the truth values true and false, but for our purposes all we need to assume about the identity of these objects is that they are different from each other.
     From: José L. Zalabardo (Introduction to the Theory of Logic [2000], §2.4)
     A reaction: Note that T and F are 'objects'. This remark is important in understanding modern logical semantics. T and F can be equated to 1 and 0 in the language of a computer. They just mean as much as you want them to mean.
5. Theory of Logic / I. Semantics of Logic / 3. Logical Truth
'Logically true' (|= φ) is true for every truth-assignment [Zalabardo]
     Full Idea: A propositional logic sentence is 'logically true', written |= φ, if it is true for every admissible truth-assignment.
     From: José L. Zalabardo (Introduction to the Theory of Logic [2000], §2.4)
Logically true sentences are true in all structures [Zalabardo]
     Full Idea: In first-order languages, logically true sentences are true in all structures.
     From: José L. Zalabardo (Introduction to the Theory of Logic [2000], §3.5)
5. Theory of Logic / I. Semantics of Logic / 4. Satisfaction
Some formulas are 'satisfiable' if there is a structure and interpretation that makes them true [Zalabardo]
     Full Idea: A set of formulas of a first-order language is 'satisfiable' if there is a structure and a variable interpretation in that structure such that all the formulas of the set are true.
     From: José L. Zalabardo (Introduction to the Theory of Logic [2000], §3.5)
A sentence-set is 'satisfiable' if at least one truth-assignment makes them all true [Zalabardo]
     Full Idea: A propositional logic set of sentences Γ is 'satisfiable' if there is at least one admissible truth-assignment that makes all of its sentences true.
     From: José L. Zalabardo (Introduction to the Theory of Logic [2000], §2.4)
5. Theory of Logic / J. Model Theory in Logic / 1. Logical Models
A structure models a sentence if it is true in the model, and a set of sentences if they are all true in the model [Zalabardo]
     Full Idea: A structure is a model of a sentence if the sentence is true in the model; a structure is a model of a set of sentences if they are all true in the structure.
     From: José L. Zalabardo (Introduction to the Theory of Logic [2000], §3.6)