Single Idea 19320

[catalogued under 3. Truth / F. Semantic Truth / 2. Semantic Truth]

Full Idea

Because the definition of satisfaction must have a separate clause for each predicate, Tarski's method only works for languages with a finite number of predicates, ...but natural languages have an infinite number of predicates.

Gist of Idea

If we define truth by listing the satisfactions, the supply of predicates must be finite

Source

Richard L. Kirkham (Theories of Truth: a Critical Introduction [1992], 5.5)

Book Reference

Kirkham,Richard L.: 'Theories of Truth: a Critical Introduction' [MIT 1995], p.159


A Reaction

He suggest predicates containing natural numbers, as examples of infinite predicates. Davidson tried to extend the theory to natural languages, by (I think) applying it to adverbs, which could generate the infinite predicates. Maths has finite predicates.