Single Idea 18753

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / I. Semantics of Logic / 1. Semantics of Logic]

Full Idea

We can get a less ontologically perilous presentation of the semantics of the predicate calculus by using sets instead of concepts.

Gist of Idea

An ontologically secure semantics for predicate calculus relies on sets

Source

Vann McGee (Logical Consequence [2014], 4)

Book Reference

'Bloomsbury Companion to Philosophical Logic', ed/tr. Horsten,L/Pettigrew,R [Bloomsbury 2014], p.36


A Reaction

The perilous versions rely on Fregean concepts, and notably Russell's 'concept that does not fall under itself'. The sets, of course, have to be ontologically secure, and so will involve the iterative conception, rather than naive set theory.

Related Idea

Idea 18752 'The concept "horse"' denotes a concept, yet seems also to denote an object [Frege, by McGee]