48,745 research outputs found
A logic-based approach to problems in pragmatics
After an exposé of the programme involved, it is shown that the Gricean maxims fail to do their job in so far as they are meant to account for the well-known problem of natural intuitions of logical entailment that deviate from standard modern logic. It is argued that there is no reason why natural logical and ontological intuitions should conform to standard logic, because standard logic is based on mathematics while natural logical and ontological intuitions derive from a cognitive system in people's minds (supported by their brain structures). A proposal is then put forward to try a totally different strategy, via (a) a grammatical reduction of surface sentences to their logico-semantic form and (b) via logic itself, in particular the notion of natural logic, based on a natural ontology and a natural set theory. Since any logical system is fully defined by (a) its ontology and its overarching notions and axioms regarding truth, (b) the meanings of its operators, and (c) the ranges of its variables, logical systems can be devised that deviate from modern logic in any or all of the above respects, as long as they remain consistent. This allows one, as an empirical enterprise, to devise a natural logic, which is as sound as standard logic but corresponds better with natural intuitions. It is hypothesised that at least two varieties of natural logic must be assumed in order to account for natural logical and ontological intuitions, since culture and scholastic education have elevated modern societies to a higher level of functionality and refinement. These two systems correspond, with corrections and additions, to Hamilton's 19th-century logic and to the classic Square of Opposition, respectively. Finally, an evaluation is presented, comparing the empirical success rates of the systems envisaged
Formalization, Mechanization and Automation of G\"odel's Proof of God's Existence
G\"odel's ontological proof has been analysed for the first-time with an
unprecedent degree of detail and formality with the help of higher-order
theorem provers. The following has been done (and in this order): A detailed
natural deduction proof. A formalization of the axioms, definitions and
theorems in the TPTP THF syntax. Automatic verification of the consistency of
the axioms and definitions with Nitpick. Automatic demonstration of the
theorems with the provers LEO-II and Satallax. A step-by-step formalization
using the Coq proof assistant. A formalization using the Isabelle proof
assistant, where the theorems (and some additional lemmata) have been automated
with Sledgehammer and Metis.Comment: 2 page
Modality, Potentiality and Contradiction in Quantum Mechanics
In [11], Newton da Costa together with the author of this paper argued in
favor of the possibility to consider quantum superpositions in terms of a
paraconsistent approach. We claimed that, even though most interpretations of
quantum mechanics (QM) attempt to escape contradictions, there are many hints
that indicate it could be worth while to engage in a research of this kind.
Recently, Arenhart and Krause [1, 2, 3] have raised several arguments against
this approach and claimed that, taking into account the square of opposition,
quantum superpositions are better understood in terms of contrariety
propositions rather than contradictory propositions. In [17] we defended the
Paraconsistent Approach to Quantum Superpositions (PAQS) and provided arguments
in favor of its development. In the present paper we attempt to analyze the
meanings of modality, potentiality and contradiction in QM, and provide further
arguments of why the PAQS is better suited, than the Contrariety Approach to
Quantum Superpositions (CAQS) proposed by Arenhart and Krause, to face the
interpretational questions that quantum technology is forcing us to consider.Comment: Published in: New Directions in Paraconsistent Logic, J-Y B\'eziau M.
Chakraborty & S. Dutta (Eds.), Springer, in press. arXiv admin note: text
overlap with arXiv:1404.518
Barry Smith an sich
Festschrift in Honor of Barry Smith on the occasion of his 65th Birthday. Published as issue 4:4 of the journal Cosmos + Taxis: Studies in Emergent Order and Organization. Includes contributions by Wolfgang Grassl, Nicola Guarino, John T. Kearns, Rudolf Lüthe, Luc Schneider, Peter Simons, Wojciech Żełaniec, and Jan Woleński
Indispensability Without Platonism
According to Quine’s indispensability argument, we ought to believe in just those mathematical entities that we quantify over in our best scientific theories. Quine’s criterion of ontological commitment is part of the standard indispensability argument. However, we suggest that a new indispensability argument can be run using Armstrong’s criterion of ontological commitment rather than Quine’s. According to Armstrong’s criterion, ‘to be is to be a truthmaker (or part of one)’. We supplement this criterion with our own brand of metaphysics, 'Aristotelian (...) realism', in order to identify the truthmakers of mathematics. We consider in particular as a case study the indispensability to physics of real analysis (the theory of the real numbers). We conclude that it is possible to run an indispensability argument without Quinean baggage
Quine, Ontology, and Physicalism
Quine's views on ontology and naturalism are well-known but rarely considered in tandem. According to my interpretation the connection between them is vital. I read Quine as a global epistemic structuralist. Quine thought we only ever know objects qua solutions to puzzles about significant intersections in observations. Objects are always accessed descriptively, via their roles in our best theory. Quine's Kant lectures contain an early version of epistemic structuralism with uncharacteristic remarks about the mental. Here Quine embraces mitigated anomalous monism, allowing introspection and the availability in principle of full physical descriptions of the perceptual states which get science off the ground. Later versions abandon these ideas. My epistemic-structural interpretation explains why. I argue first-personal introspective access to mental states is incompatible with global epistemic structuralism
Computer Science and Metaphysics: A Cross-Fertilization
Computational philosophy is the use of mechanized computational techniques to
unearth philosophical insights that are either difficult or impossible to find
using traditional philosophical methods. Computational metaphysics is
computational philosophy with a focus on metaphysics. In this paper, we (a)
develop results in modal metaphysics whose discovery was computer assisted, and
(b) conclude that these results work not only to the obvious benefit of
philosophy but also, less obviously, to the benefit of computer science, since
the new computational techniques that led to these results may be more broadly
applicable within computer science. The paper includes a description of our
background methodology and how it evolved, and a discussion of our new results.Comment: 39 pages, 3 figure
Logics and Their Galaxies
This article introduces some concepts that help exploring the ontological
import of universal logic. It studies the notions of an antilogic and counterlogic associated
to each logic and shows some of their properties. It presents the notion of
galaxy, as the class of possible worlds compatible with a given logic.We explore some
consequences of these developments
The Paraconsistent Approach to Quantum Superpositions Reloaded: Formalizing Contradictory Powers in the Potential Realm
In [7] the authors of this paper argued in favor of the possibility to
consider a Paraconsistent Approach to Quantum Superpositions (PAQS). We claimed
that, even though most interpretations of quantum mechanics (QM) attempt to
escape contradictions, there are many hints -coming from present technical and
experimental developments in QM- that indicate it could be worth while to
engage in a research of this kind. Recently, Arenhart and Krause have raised
several arguments against the PAQS [1, 2, 3]. In [11, 12] it was argued that
their reasoning presupposes a metaphysical stance according to which the
physical representation of reality must be exclusively considered in terms of
the equation: Actuality = Reality. However, from a different metaphysical
standpoint their problems disappear. It was also argued that, if we accept the
idea that quantum superpositions exist in a (contradictory) potential realm, it
makes perfect sense to develop QM in terms of a paraconsistent approach and
claim that quantum superpositions are contradictory, contextual existents.
Following these ideas, and taking as a standpoint an interpretation in terms of
the physical notions of power and potentia put forward in [10, 12, 15], we
present a paraconsistent formalization of quantum superpositions that attempts
to capture the main features of QM.Comment: 26 pages, no figures. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with
arXiv:1502.05081, arXiv:1404.5186, arXiv:1506.0737
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