Single Idea 15594

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / E. Structures of Logic / 4. Variables in Logic]

Full Idea

According to the 'instantial' approach to variables, a closed quantified sentence is to be understood on the basis of one of its instances; from an understanding of an instance we understand satisfaction by an arbitrary individual.

Gist of Idea

'Instantial' accounts of variables say we grasp arbitrary instances from their use in quantification

Source

Kit Fine (Semantic Relationism [2007], 1.D)

Book Reference

Fine,Kit: 'Semantic Relationism' [OUP 2007], p.16


A Reaction

Fine comments that this is intuitively plausible, but not very precise, because it depends on 'abstraction' of the individual from the expression.

Related Idea

Idea 12373 Something holds universally when it is proved of an arbitrary and primitive case [Aristotle]