Single Idea 3810

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

Full Idea

In real-life reasoning it is the semantic content that guarantees the validity of the inference, not the syntactical rule.

Clarification

'Semantics' is meanings, 'syntax' is sentence structure

Gist of Idea

In real reasoning semantics gives validity, not syntax

Source

John Searle (Rationality in Action [2001], Ch.1.II)

Book Reference

Searle,John R.: 'Rationality in Action' [MIT 2001], p.21